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On the ground reporting from Punxsutawney, Pa

by YankeeJim | February 2, 2010 at 06:49 am

188 views | 54 Recommendations | 6 comments

I have been living in the same den for the past several years. I often hang out by the road side where the grass is long and lush, but in the winter, I prefer my burrow. Then, every February human fools all dressed up in top hats and ties reach in here to molest my resting soul. I always try to bite them when they are rooting around, though they wear thick gloves.

Now, they know before I come out of my hole whether or not I am “going to see my shadow.” Hey fellas, do you see the sunshine or not?

It is cold and we’re getting a lot of snow this year, so put I back where I belong. I’ll be out in the warm spring six weeks from now.

Phil G. Hog

“Punxsutawney Phil: 6 more weeks of winter

Thousands gather before dawn to witness Pa. groundhog’s forecast

PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. - The world's most famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, emerged before chilly revelers in western Pennsylvania Tuesday to see his shadow, meaning winter will last another six weeks.

Thousands of people gathered before dawn to await this weather forecast.

German tradition holds that if a hibernating animal casts a shadow on Feb. 2 — the Christian holiday of Candlemas — winter will last another six weeks. If no shadow is seen, legend says spring will come early.”

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Jordan Yerman

at 07:02 on February 2nd, 2010

VANOC is gonna be thrilled. You could mountain bike on Cypress right now.

stejeb

at 08:15 on February 2nd, 2010

Looks like he ate near as much as me over Christmas!

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 10:17 on February 2nd, 2010

Cute:)

Uwe Paschen

at 10:27 on February 2nd, 2010

Well, we had spring or fall for most of the winter here and last night it started snowing for the first time this season.

I am not to sure if we have a spring or summer this year. Nice post.

anarkissed

at 11:06 on February 2nd, 2010

Why do we let weather conditions in the east dictate our idea of the end of winter here in the west? Our climate is vastly different. Take a look outside your window. If the weather is grey and there's precipitation, you'll have a warmer end-of-winter and an earlier spring. If it's a fine bright day, calm and cold, you'll have a longer colder winter. I've been watching for a few decades and it runs true, year after year. It relates to the movement of the jetstream northward. As it shifts north, it brings unsettled weather and warmer temperatures. If it isnt' shifting yet, you keep that high cold dry air and clear skies. The jetstream is further north in summer and south in winter, so that's the marker of season (caused by the tilt of the earth, of course.)

So out there in Vancouver, your weather is determined by your location, not some rodents on the Eastern coast!