Happy Groundhog Day!

It's the day that meteorologists who went to school for years, learning how to predict weather patterns, hate the most. The day when a small rodent no one pays attention to for 364 days of the year takes centre stage. Yes, groundhog day is upon us once again. Here's a quick rundown for those of you that may not be familiar with the tradition:

People gather around a groundhog burrow and wait for the little fella to appear. If he comes out an sees his shadow on a sunny day, then he will return back to his burrow and prepare for another 6 weeks of winter. If he does not see his shadow then that's supposed to mean an early spring.

Now I don't know about you, but if I see my shadow on a sunny day I chase it. Just kidding. I put on my short shorts and break out the iced tea. Groundhog day has so many other traditions around it that make it special. It's not just about the furry critters. The roots of Groundhog day come from German immigrants that came to Canada and the United States. Therefore, German food and drink is often served at Groundhog day events. This is starting to sound more and more like my kind of hangout!

So how effective are the little guys at predicting future weather? Well... Seeing as how they only have 2 options which means a 50% chance they get it right... They aren't doing too well. In a study of 13 Canadian cities over 40 years, they found that the groundhogs were only correct 37% of the time. So maybe don't take the predictions as gospel. Instead, enjoy the festivities, food and drinks.

Will you be attending any Groundhog Day celebrations this year?
Dex