It’s a little hard to believe we are just about into February and Groundhog's Day is just around the corner. For some, Groundhog's Day signals what could be the end of winter, or at least a light at the end of the tunnel. I took a look at snowfall numbers for Syracuse after February 2 and found, however, almost no difference between snowfall after Punxsutawney Phil predicts an early Spring versus when he predicts 6 more weeks of winter. It’s been my experience that spring never arrives before the middle of March here in Central New York so we are guaranteed at least 6 more weeks of winter. In fact, if you look closely at Syracuse numbers you will see there is little difference in our late season winter weather based on Phil’s prediction. Here is a look at average snowfall after February 2nd:
47.4” When Phil predicts 6 more weeks of winter
49.2” When Phil predicts an early spring.
So while it may be a big deal in Pennsylvania (literally thousands of people show up!), a large gopher being plucked from his burrow to see if he spots his shadow does not qualify as a sign of an early spring here in Central New York. Still if you are wondering what up with Phil check out this web site:
http://www.groundhog.org/
If you want to watch the spectacle live this Saturday that’s where you would go. Even Phil is hip to the new technology although I don’t know if he has his own blog.
Here are some loose ends for January. As I post this (Thursday morning) we still have a few hours left in the month but it looks like our snow is done and it is the least snow in January since records were kept at the airport. The total is going to be either 10” even or 10.1” There is a slight discrepancy between what the folks at the airport have in their records and what the National Weather Service is posting in the daily climate report. Hopefully will have that cleared up soon. Temperature-wise we are going to end up almost 7 degrees above normal. Not even the warmest January of this decade, though. January 2002 and 2006 were both warmer.
The Lake Effect Challenge for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is now up to 21.50 dollars. Only 14 days until pitchers and catchers report to spring training. You can almost smell the pine tar now!
