Happy February 2, everyone! Better known, of course, as Groundhog Day. Time to find out if we can kick Old Man Winter to the curb or if we have to put up with him for a few more weeks. And before you think, eh, who really believes in all that? You better bet meteorologists get VERY excited about this.
“Groundhog Day is like the meteorologist’s Super Bowl, baby,” says HLN meteorologist Bob Van Dillen.
You pumped up yet? Okay, let’s see what our furry friend Punxsutawney Phil had to say over at the Gobbler's Knob hill... Phil?
"Many shadows do I see, six more weeks of winter it must be," a member of Phil's "Inner Circle" tells the crowd as they boo him in return.
More winter? Yeah, we don’t like the sound of that, even if you do say it like Yoda. How about a second opinion from Phil’s biggest competitor.
Staten Island Chuck made his appearance at the zoo and says no more winter! Now that’s more like it.
Georgia’s groundhog, General Beauregard Lee, also failed to see his shadow outside of his “Weathering Heights” mansion.
Same goes for Jimmy the Groundhog in Wisconsin and Stormy Marmot in Colorado.
So, looks like Punxsutawney Phil is out on his own this year.
“I continue to scratch my head when Punxsutawney Phil keeps seeing his shadow, even though the clouds are always socked in,” says Van Dillen. “Conspiracy? Maybe. That’s why I count on Staten Island Chuck… he can’t be bought off!”
Bribes? Conspiracies? Man, who knew groundhogs could be so… scandalous!?
As for us, here’s our prediction: With the unseasonably warm winter we’ve had across most of the U.S. so far, we win either way. An early spring would give us a chance to roll out the grill sooner, but we’re not afraid of a few more weeks of these mild temps, either!
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