Groundhog uses magic, says what’s what with winter.

by JGordon on Feb. 02nd, 2008
in The Water Cycle, Weather and Climate

comments

Punxsutawney Phil: Surrounded by his attendant wizards.
Courtesy Aaron SilversThis afternoon, in an announcement that surprised all, a rural Pennsylvanian groundhog emerged from a tree stump cage, and used magic to tell the world that it would be under the icy yolk of winter for at least six more weeks. Residents of the planet’s southern hemisphere were particularly disturbed.

Wisely deviating from the over relied upon scientific discipline of meteorology, experts have turned to the prognostications of the groundhog Phil, who uses centuries old magical techniques to reveal the secrets of immensely complex future weather patterns.

The determination was not without controversy, however. While the groundhog weather diviner West Indies Wilbur agreed with Phil – the most senior and important of extra-sensory rodents – several noted groundhogs took issue with the announcement. Wiarton Willy, Staten Island Chuck, Sir Walter Wally, Shubenacadie Sam, Malverne Mel, General Beauregard Lee, and Balzac Billy all argued the proclamation. However, as the National Climactic Data Center has stated groundhog accuracy to be around 39%, it makes sense that so many weather rodents would disagree with shrewd Phil.

Average:

Your Comments, Thoughts, Questions, Ideas

JGordon says:

Also, I think some of you will remember a similar occurrence in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, except that, in there, it was a beaver. And he was against winter.

posted on Sun, 02/03/2008 - 1:15am

Gene says:

We discussed Groundhog's Day on this blog a couple of years ago. Far from being "magic," it actually has its roots in close observation of nature. Clear skies in early February mean you've got an Arctic high pressure system overhead, which is going to keep things cold for a while. Cloudy skies result from a low pressure system, pulling warmer air up from the south.

February 2nd is also a cross-quarter day, midway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. In ancient Ireland, it was celebrated as the first day of spring. A bit early for my taste, but I guess it can never come too soon.

posted on Tue, 02/05/2008 - 8:48pm

JGordon says:

Well, sure, it may have originally been based in meteorological science, but, once everybody realized how much better rodent-based magic was, who could blame us for switching? I tend to avoid observing nature as much as possible (a simple grocery bag over the head generally does the trick, for anyone who's curious), and so rely on supernatural explanations whenever available.

Thanks, by the way, for the link. One of these days I'll start searching for articles that have already been written.

posted on Wed, 02/06/2008 - 12:29am

Candice says:

yeah kinda hoping that it would end like so many days ago

posted on Wed, 02/20/2008 - 11:11am

Post new comment

Explore

« prev. next »
¡ RaNdOm !

Site Navigation