CHEYENNE, Wyo. — It’s Groundhog Day, and Cheyenne, Wyoming is feeling the effects of the new prediction. Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog from Gobbler’s Knob, Pennsylvania (known as the weather capital of the world), has emerged to complete his most important duty of the year.
While everyone was hopeful for an early spring, our furry friend has seen his shadow.
According to the Washington Post, this groundhog tradition has happened 136 times. Legend says that if the groundhog sees his shadow, we will have six more weeks of winter, and if he doesn’t, spring is quickly approaching.
Well, before the prediction was even made, Cheyenne’s weather decided to bring subfreezing temperatures and snow! As if that wasn’t a telling sign, it was made official when Phil, the meteorologist, spoke in what can only be known as “groundhogese,” making it clear that that winter is here to stay (at least for a little while longer).
While Punxsutawney Phil seems to be right on the mark this year, his shadow is only an accurate prediction about 40% of the time.
Today, Cheyenne will see a high of 9 degrees and winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Cheyenne is also under a winter storm warning until Thursday, expecting anywhere between 4 and 7 inches of accumulated snow.
After an unusually late winter, Wyoming is happy to be receiving some much-delayed snow. The more snow there is means the more skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, snowman making, and snowball fights we are able to have.
Of course, the weather can change pretty quickly in Wyoming, so we’ll have to see if the Phil’s prediction comes true.
