Groundhog Day Prediction Could Be Accurate If No Shadow, Maybe

With a winter that can best be described as weird and unpredictable, folks around the U.S. seem to be wondering what that weather-forecasting rodent Punxsutawney Phil will have to say on Groundhog Day. According to AccuWeather.com, Thursday's prediction has a higher chance of being just what we want to hear -- an early spring and a quick "see ya" to winter.

As the Groundhog Day rules go, if Phil emerges from his burrow and sees his shadow, then we're all in for six more weeks of winter. However, if Phil doesn't see his shadow, we can expect an early Spring. AccuWeather forecasters believe that cloudy conditions in the Northeast and in Pennsylvania where Phil will be the star at Gobbler's Knob will make a groundhog shadow less likely.

Meteorologists for AccuWeather would seem to agree if Phil misses his own shadow: Long range forecasts show a warmup for the rest of the winter season with warmer days through February and March, meaning that we may all be in for wpring weather earlier than we are used to.

Unfortunately, warmer weather brings with it severe weather threats meaning that a spring tornado season could come earlier and bring dangerous conditions -- but not for all parts of the country.

AccuWeather noted that the areas of eastern Texas toward the Carolinas may see severe weather conditions in February and March that are more commonly seen in spring rather than winter but northern parts of the country like the Great Lakes and Northeast could see more snowy weather coming up. As AccuWeather described it, these areas may see "significant snow" coming up.

The big event with Punxsutawney Phil will happen on Thursday, Feb. 2 and organizers expect the groundhog to emerge from his burrow and work his forecasting magic around 7:20 a.m. Eastern time. While most of us will be rooting for Phil to not notice his shadow but ultimately, as the winter-weary should remember, wpring won't depend upon Phil's prediction.

According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, Spring will begin with the Vernal Equinox on March 20 at 1:14 a.m. Eastern time and it won't matter what Phil thinks. Winter won't end and spring won't begin until that date -- shadow or no shadow.