Groundhogs , Have Dueling Predictions , About When Spring Will Get Here.
Once a year, Americans ask groundhogs to predict the end of winter, and this year, two of the furry forecasters had differing predictions.
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NPR reports that Pennsylvania's Punxsutawney Phil failed to see his shadow, which would mean six more weeks of winter.
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NPR reports that Pennsylvania's Punxsutawney Phil failed to see his shadow, which would mean six more weeks of winter.
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However, Staten Island Chuck, otherwise known as Charles G.
Hogg, saw his shadow, which would mean an early spring.
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However, Staten Island Chuck, otherwise known as Charles G.
Hogg, saw his shadow, which would mean an early spring.
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Last year, the two forecasting rodents had the same differing predictions.
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The result, was an unseasonably cold February and a warmer March, .
The result, was an unseasonably cold February and a warmer March, .
... which means that, in a way, both groundhogs were right.
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Despite this, NPR reports that as a species, groundhogs are not the most reliable meteorologists, according to recent research.
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Last summer, a study looked at 530 different groundhog predictions across 33 locations.
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The study found that groundhogs were right exactly 50% of the time.
Using a novel phenological indicator of spring, this study determined, without a shadow of a doubt, that groundhog prognosticating abilities for the arrival of spring are no better than chance, Researchers, American Meteorological Society publication, via NPR.
Some standouts from the study include:.
Connecticut's Essex Ed and New Jersey's Stonewall Jackson were accurate with their predictions over 70% of the time.
Connecticut's Essex Ed and New Jersey's Stonewall Jackson were accurate with their predictions over 70% of the time.
However, Ohio's Buckeye Chuck and New York's Dunkirk Dave ended up being wrong more than 70% of the time.
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However, Ohio's Buckeye Chuck and New York's Dunkirk Dave ended up being wrong more than 70% of the time.
