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Pennsylvania's Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his lair this morning and reportedly saw his shadow, predicting six more weeks of winter. The groundhog made his "prediction" on Gobbler's Knob, a small hill in the town for which he is named, about 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.
Six more weeks of this mild winter will suit most area residents.
According to records by this National Weather Service official observer, Mexico had five days of temperatures above 63 degrees in January, 2012, five days in the 50s and 11 days in the 40s. The lowest temperature recorded in Mexico this winter is 10 degrees, recorded Jan. 19. In December, 2011, Mexico records show 21 days of 45- to 60-degree temperatures and the lowest recorded temperature was 14 degrees on the 8th and the 11th.
In addition, Mexico’s only measurable snowfall this winter (12/1-today) has been: 2 inches Dec. 6; 1 inch Jan. 12; and 1/2 inch Jan. 28. Of the 4.10 inches of precipitation, 3.79 was rain and only 0.31 was snow.
In contrast, in January 2011 Mexico had 5 inches of snow on Jan. 11, 6 inches of snow on Jan. 20, 1 inch of snow on Jan. 21, 1 inch of snow of Jan. 22 and 1 inch of snow on Jan. 26. And a year ago today, Mexico residents awoke to 18 inches of snow on the ground.
Also, this winter’s temperatures have been very mild – especially when compared to last year. The average temperature so far this winter has been 36.6 degrees at Columbia. Last year the average temperature through the same period (12/1-1/31) was ten to twelve degrees colder. According to the National Weather Service in St. Louis, this ranks as the seventh warmest start to meteorological winter on record through the month of January for Columbia.
Following is the top ten list of average temperatures from 12/1-1/31 in Columbia.
Rank Value Year(s)
1 42.7 1890
2 39.8 1932
3 37.8 1914
4 37.4 1939
5 37.0 1919
6 36.8 1933
7 36.6 2012*
* several other years tied
The Groundhog Day celebration is rooted in a German superstition that says 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.
Phil has seen his shadow 99 times and hasn’t seen it just 16 times since 1886, according to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club’s Inner Circle, which runs the event. There are no records for the remaining years.
Pennsylvania's Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his lair this morning and reportedly saw his shadow, predicting six more weeks of winter. The groundhog made his "prediction" on Gobbler's Knob, a small hill in the town for which he is named, about 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.
Six more weeks of this mild winter will suit most area residents.
According to records by this National Weather Service official observer, Mexico had five days of temperatures above 63 degrees in January, 2012, five days in the 50s and 11 days in the 40s. The lowest temperature recorded in Mexico this winter is 10 degrees, recorded Jan. 19. In December, 2011, Mexico records show 21 days of 45- to 60-degree temperatures and the lowest recorded temperature was 14 degrees on the 8th and the 11th.
In addition, Mexico’s only measurable snowfall this winter (12/1-today) has been: 2 inches Dec. 6; 1 inch Jan. 12; and 1/2 inch Jan. 28. Of the 4.10 inches of precipitation, 3.79 was rain and only 0.31 was snow.
In contrast, in January 2011 Mexico had 5 inches of snow on Jan. 11, 6 inches of snow on Jan. 20, 1 inch of snow on Jan. 21, 1 inch of snow of Jan. 22 and 1 inch of snow on Jan. 26. And a year ago today, Mexico residents awoke to 18 inches of snow on the ground.
Also, this winter’s temperatures have been very mild – especially when compared to last year. The average temperature so far this winter has been 36.6 degrees at Columbia. Last year the average temperature through the same period (12/1-1/31) was ten to twelve degrees colder. According to the National Weather Service in St. Louis, this ranks as the seventh warmest start to meteorological winter on record through the month of January for Columbia.
Following is the top ten list of average temperatures from 12/1-1/31 in Columbia.
Rank Value Year(s)
1 42.7 1890
2 39.8 1932
3 37.8 1914
4 37.4 1939
5 37.0 1919
6 36.8 1933
7 36.6 2012*
* several other years tied
The Groundhog Day celebration is rooted in a German superstition that says 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.
Phil has seen his shadow 99 times and hasn’t seen it just 16 times since 1886, according to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club’s Inner Circle, which runs the event. There are no records for the remaining years.
