However, below-average temperatures were observed across portions of the central Rockies to western Texas and also in Alaska during February. New Jersey ranked third warmest, while Rhode Island and Delaware ranked fifth warmest. Much-above-average temperatures were observed across parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast as well as portions of California and Florida.
This ranked among the warmest one-third of the 126-year period of record. temperature during February 2020 was 36.2☏, 2.3☏ above the twentieth-century average. In fact, the contiguous United States saw above-average temperatures in both February and March of last year. In 2020, Phil forecast a 'short winter' when he did not see his shadow and predicted an early spring. On average, Phil has gotten it right 50% of the time over the past 10 years. national temperatures with Phil’s forecasts.
To determine just how accurate he is, we’ve compared U.S. But, if Phil doesn’t see his shadow, we can expect warmer temperatures and the arrival of an early spring.Įven though he’s been forecasting since 1887, Phil’s track record for the entire country isn’t perfect. If the 20-pound groundhog emerges and sees his shadow, the United States can expect six more weeks of winter weather according to legend. Every February 2, a crowd of thousands gathers at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to await a special forecast from a groundhog named Phil.
