Rodent weather

[fbhjr]

Tomorrow is national giant rodent day otherwise known at Groundhog’s day,
and one of my favorite holidays. It is the day when everyone turns over
weather forecasting to giant rodents under the theory they can’t be much
worse than the regular weather folks.
The folks who keep track of these things tell me that groundhogs run about
39% correct. Random guesses run at about 33%, so I guess they’re a bit
ahead, but not much.

Some folks may remember that there is a family of groundhogs
that lives behind the factory at work.
I’ve been watching for them all week to get a clue about the rest of the
winter.
But, they have refused to come out for either the bitter cold or the rain
with hurricane level winds.
This shows that they are very different from TV weather people as they love
wild weather and go out dancing in it when they should stay home.

Tomorrow is supposed to be partly sunny. So, the weather is in doubt.
Rodent shadow=more winter. No shadow=spring.
It could go either way.

Comments

[frozendoll.livejournal.com]

C'mon Shadow! I'd like more winter. I want at least one snow day this year. A snow day for me is when there's more than 6" on the ground. My car is a rear wheel drive muscle car, so it sucks in the snow is my excuse, but kinda true anyway. :)

[pallid-regina.livejournal.com]

Based on the weather we've been having here so far this winter I'm anticipating that it will simultaneously see and not-see its shadow and we'll continue with this insane "shorts weather one day followed by ice and snow the next" mishmash awhile longer.

[evrgreen.livejournal.com]

I can see you out there with one of the webcams from the GRF project, suspended by a cable from the nearest tree, pointing at the groundhog den...

Come on, Rodent!!!

[sorceress.livejournal.com]

So THAT'S what groundhog day is! My Mum wanted to know. I like it!

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

Yep, weather predicting rodents:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundhog_Day

[endlessblush.livejournal.com]

So a groundhog is just a giant rat?? I guess I've never really understood what kind of animal it is. Are they common? Would I find one in my back yard? The woods?

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

Well, yeah, giant rodents:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundhog

I wouldn't say they are super common. Especially near the cities. But, as the pollution controls have gotten better, they have become more common than they were.

I generally see them along the sides of highways or in the grass strips between the two lanes. I would say I see half a dozen a year.

[endlessblush.livejournal.com]

oh .. so a giant squirrel thing. They are very odd aren't they. Well I think they are.

I suppose our native fauna is odd too when you think about it here in Australia.

[palusbuteo.livejournal.com]

For whatever reason, "Rodent Shadow" is making me laugh right now