SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- While it might be a fun tradition, the word of the groundhog cannot be taken too seriously.
Through at least the month of February we are expecting overall below average temperatures. Now this week is going to be warmer overall than what we've seen. Still, highs are expected to be in the twenties and are not above average for this time of year.
We’re not going to get above average for this week and the next time we could see some warmer conditions close to Valentine’s Day.
March is still up in the air as well. The Climate Prediction Center expects Michiana to have overall near normal temperatures from February through April, so a slightly closer to average March will be our greatest hope.
I would say that no matter what the groundhog says, make sure you’re bundling up, and stay updated every day on the ABC57 Weather App.
Now Punxsutawney Phil might be the most popular and certainly longest running animal weather predictor that the United States has but there are other groundhogs that have a significantly higher accuracy rate than Phil.
Particularly Staten Island Chuck, with an 85 percent accuracy rate. Staten Island Chuck also got last year's prediction correct, early spring, determined by the NWS as an at or above average temperature for both February and March, something Phil did not do.
However, the closest groundhog to Michiana, South Shore Sally, based out of Hammond, Ind. got her first prediction ever correct.
Last year South Shore Sally called for early spring, and indeed, February had a near average overall temperature and March had an above average temperature, which counts as an early spring.