Woody's Weather for Jan. 31, 2007

Wednesday, January 31, 2007

By Jim Woodmencey

Planet Jackson Hole’s Weekly Weather                              January 31, 2007
Rodent Forecasters
    This Friday, February 2 is Groundhog’s Day. The day when famous groundhog Punxsutawney Phil emerges from his hole back in Pennsylvania. As legend has it, if the day is sunny and he sees his shadow, then we will have six more weeks of winter. If the day is cloudy, however, we are supposed to have an early spring.
    Here in Wyoming, our version of this rodent is called a marmot, the best known of which is Lander Lil, from over the hill.
    I am still amazed at the media attention these rats get as weather forecasters (I’m secretly envious, I guess). The fact is it can be sunny or cloudy on Friday and it will have no bearing whatsoever on how long winter will last.
    Groundhog’s Day, February 2nd, was chosen simply because it marks the halfway point of the winter season. Winter is 12 weeks long, and this day is midway between the Winter Solstice (December 21) and the Spring Equinox (March 21).
    According to the calendar, we get six more weeks of winter, regardless of whether Phil or Lil need sunglasses that day.    

What is it normally like in Jackson this week?
   
    Average High:           28 ºF
    Average Low:            3 ºF
    Normal February Precipitation: 1.00 inch
    Normal February Snowfall:    12.5 inches
    
What it can be like in Jackson this week:
    Record High:             55 ºF  Feb. 3, 1965
     Record Low:      - 44 ºF   Feb. 1, 1956
    Wettest February ever:        2.83 inches (1962)
    Snowiest February ever:      44 inches (1999)
    
Information provided by meteorologist Jim Woodmencey   www.mountainweather.com







PERMALINK:
Woody's Weather for Jan. 31, 2007 | Planet JH News Article: Snow Report Column

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