CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte, N.C. -
We are almost halfway done with Winter!
Making it official on February 2nd or better known as Ground hog day!
Since 1887 the US has been anxiously looking to Punxsutawney Phil to tell us his prognostication on what the rest of Winter will bring.
But why do we do this? It is all based on superstition and a day called Candlemas Day.
This is a celebration marking the midpoint of Winter but it was the Germans that had a unique spin on the holiday and brought it to United States and Pennsylvania in the early years of our country.
According to the folklore…
Simply put if it is it is cloudy or there is inclement weather at the midpoint of Winter, an animal will NOT cast a shadow and by superstition. the second half of Winter can only get better.
BUT if it is sunny out… you WILL see an animal’s shadow and there will be six more weeks of Winter or a “Second Winter”
Because it can only get worse from here, right?
Looking at the prognosticator of prognosticators average success rate since 1887… He’s only been right 39% of the time and typically see’s more winter coming than Spring.
During the part 2 of Winter in the Charlotte area, we see our average highs move from the lower 50’s to the mid 60s by March 20th.
Which is great BUT nearly a 1/3 of our yearly snowfall typically falls in the month of February.
And historically it has snowed on March 2nd more than any day in Charlotte snowing 16 times over the years.
So going forward… get ready for a lot of up and down trends with strong low pressure systems. And let’s hope Mother Nature and our groundhogs can both agree that Spring really may be right around the corner.