24/7 Space News
EARTH OBSERVATION
Scientists cast doubt on famous US groundhog's weather forecasts
Scientists cast doubt on famous US groundhog's weather forecasts
by AFP Staff Writers
Washington (AFP) Jan 31, 2025

Scientists have cast doubt on the reliability of America's most celebrated rodent forecaster -- whose apparent knack of predicting how long winter will last forms a hallowed tradition in the United States.

Punxsutawney Phil, made famous by the 1993 film "Groundhog Day," attracts thousands of onlookers every February 2 to the Pennsylvania town that he takes his name from.

The US state's tradition of using a large rodent to predict the seasons dates back to the Pennsylvania Dutch belief that if a groundhog left its burrow and saw its shadow, it would scurry back inside and winter would go on for six more weeks.

But professional forecasters have warned ahead of Phil's appearance this Sunday that his prediction is likely to be way off the mark.

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has concluded that only 35 percent of Phil's forecasts have proved to be accurate -- placing him at a lowly 17th compared to other rodent forecasters.

Staten Island Chuck, a New York-based groundhog, tops the rankings with an impressive 85 percent accuracy rate on his forecasts.

Phil and his predecessors, also called Phil, have been forecasting since 1887.

Related Links
Earth Observation News - Suppiliers, Technology and Application

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
EARTH OBSERVATION
Aerospace Corp and Google collaborate to enhance space weather forecasting with AI
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 29, 2025
The Aerospace Corporation (Aerospace), a national nonprofit operating the only federally funded research and development center dedicated to the space enterprise, has partnered with Google Public Sector to significantly advance space weather forecasting. By integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing capabilities, the collaboration aims to predict geomagnetic storms with improved speed and accuracy, days ahead of their occurrence. Space weather events, including solar f ... read more

EARTH OBSERVATION
Vast and SpaceX Call for Research Proposals to Advance Space Habitation

SpaceX mission to return US astronauts to happen 'soon': Trump

Satellite technology paves way for space traffic management

NASA Opens New Challenge to Inspire Climate Solutions

EARTH OBSERVATION
Sierra Space Dream Chaser Spaceplane Passes Key NASA Test in Preparation for ISS Resupply Mission

SpaceX launches from Florida, retires first-stage booster because of extra power needed

UK Government backs UK orbital launch with 20 million pound investment

How to Operate NASA's Orion Spacecraft for Artemis II Mission

EARTH OBSERVATION
Approaching the Red Planet from the Kitchen

Explaining persistent hydrogen in Mars atmosphere

ORBIMARS: A proposed terminology for Mars orbital operations

Now That's Ingenuity: First Aircraft Measurement of Winds on Another Planet

EARTH OBSERVATION
Astronaut insights from mid mission aboard Tiangong

China launches additional satellites for Spacesail Constellation

Shenzhou XIX crew completes second spacewalk mission

Shenzhou XIX crew completes second spacewalk

EARTH OBSERVATION
Sidus Space Receives FCC Approval for Direct-to-Device Capability

Starlink connectivity enhances Oracle Enterprise Communications Platform

South American Space Programs: No Cooperation, No Gains

Stoke Space secures $260M in Series C Funding

EARTH OBSERVATION
Tradition and hi tech sync at China 'AI temple fair'; Tourist hot spot stokes viral nostalgia

Ahead of Super Bowl, helicopter security flights will measure radiation in New Orleans

Generative AI's environmental impact in figures

Novel high-heat lubricant drastically reduces friction

EARTH OBSERVATION
Dwarf planet Ceres has rare organic material delivered by asteroids

A super-Earth laboratory for finding life beyond our solar system

Extreme supersonic winds detected on distant exoplanet

Astronauts to Collect Microbial Samples from Space Station Exterior

EARTH OBSERVATION
NASA Juno Mission Discovers Record-Breaking Volcanic Activity on Io

SwRI models suggest Pluto and Charon formed similarly to Earth and Moon

Citizen scientists help decipher Jupiter's cloud composition

Capture theory unveils how Pluto and Charon formed as a binary system

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.