WEATHERMAN AT ODDS WITH GROUNDHOGS' 'PREDICTION'
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On February 2*, 1925, forecaster Mitchell at the United States Weather Bureau here in the Nation's Capital, when asked about the prospect of "six weeks of wintry weather" based on the groundhogs** at the zoo scampering "back into their dugouts" after seeing their shadows this morning, said...
"If any groundhog could predict anything like that I would have him up here on my desk eating creme puffs."
In contradiction to the groundhogs' prediction, Mr. Mitchell states that "we are in for a spell of weather breathing of spring."
JFK+50 NOTE
The front page headline adds, "Thinks Beast Is So Dumb He Doesn't Know Shadow." Sounds like something President Trump might say.
On Sunday, February 2, 2025, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, so "the United States is set for six more weeks of winter."
*February 2nd is celebrated as Groundhog Day in the U.S. & Canada. It is based on the Pennsylvania Dutch superstition that a groundhog emerges from its burrow in the morning of Feb 2nd & if he sees his shadow will go back into his burrow for another 6 weeks of winter weather. If he does not see his shadow, it means an early spring.
Only 20 times from 1902-2024 has the groundhog reportedly NOT seen his shadow thus forecasting an early spring.
**Groundhogs, a.k.a. woodchucks, are rodents belonging to the group of large ground squirrels known as marmots. They are found in the eastern U.S., Canada & Alaska.
SOURCES
"Did Punxsutawney Phil See His Shadow on Groundhog Day 2025?," by Rachel Dobkin, Newsweek, February 2, 2025, www.msn.com/
"Groundhog's Bad Weather Tip Strikes Forecaster As Hokum," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., February 2, 1925, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/
