[Punxsutawney Phil, the famous groundhog weather predictor, has seen his shadow, forecasting six more weeks of winter. However, in reality, winter will end on the spring equinox, regardless of Phil’s prediction. Despite this, Phil’s recent predictions have only been correct 35% of the time since 2005, according to data analyzed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
While Phil’s forecast may not be reliable, meteorologists at the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center offer a more accurate view of the weather. Their outlook for February calls for above-average temperatures from the Rockies to the East Coast, and below-average temperatures in the Pacific Northwest and Midwest. These regional trends are expected to continue into early spring.
This winter has been particularly brutal in the eastern United States, with some areas experiencing one of the 10-coldest winters on record. However, the West has been warm, with cities like Phoenix, Las Vegas, and San Francisco experiencing one of their 10-warmest winters. This is not a fluke, as winter has become the fastest-warming season for nearly 75% of the US due to global warming caused by fossil fuel pollution.
In a world warming due to human activities, Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction of six more weeks of winter is a bad bet. Instead, it’s best to trust the more accurate forecasting provided by meteorologists.
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