State-of-the-art gadgetry doesn't matter, groundhog boldly predicts an early spring this year

It is charming that despite having a bewildering amount of state-of-the-art weather forecasting gadgetry at its disposal, the US — or, at least a significant number of Americans — choose to repose their faith in the instincts of rodents.

The unpronounceably named Punxsutawney Phil, the Pennsylvania groundhog with spot-on weather instincts, is called upon every year to predict the onset of spring and relies on the astoundingly simple device of looking for his shadow.

In other words, if Phil does not see it — in the estimation of his human interpreters, at least — spring is just around the corner. And, this year, despite every indication from conventional forecasters that the current frigid weather will last for a while, on Groundhog Day, Phil boldly prophesied an early thaw.


Of course, given that animals are routinely asked to divine everything from elections to sports finals, the weather is also a perfectly valid area of expertise. Moreover, unlike the often contradictory reports from weather agencies in India, the US’ furry forecasters appear to be in consonance, as New York’s groundhog ‘Staten Island Chuck’ has also predicted an early spring.

Apparently, groundhogs have had only a 39% accuracy rate since predictions began 132 years ago and human and computer forecasts are over 65% correct. But, remember, the comparison is with rodents.