Groundhog Day 2001

It was a cloudy day in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Sir Walter Wally the groundhog whispered his prognostication to Governor Mike Easley:

Spring is just around the corner!

Once again schools from across the state sent in their weather observations. Many thanks to all who participated!

Click on the small map to view the full size map:

Statewide sky conditions on February 2, 2001, preliminary map assembled from participant observations:
Week 1: February 3-9, 2001:
Week 2: February 10-16, 2001:
Week 3: February 17-23, 2001:
Week 4: February 24-March 2, 2001:
Week 5: March 3-9, 2001:
Week 6: March 10-16, 2001:
Cumulative Temperature Map: February 3-March 16, 2001:

HOW WARM WAS IT?

Did Sir Walter Wally's prediction stand? For six weeks following Groundhog Day, the North Carolina Climate Office provided statewide temperature maps for this webpage so we could check Sir Walter's forecast accuracy. For a couple of weeks it looked like Sir Walter was spot-on accurate, but then the temperatures dropped like a rock! But above-average temperatures are only one possible way to measure the arrival of spring, and many plants in the Museum's area have already shown signs of renewal.

What do you think? Was Sir Walter Wally right? Or should he brush up on his forecasting technique before Groundhog Day rolls around again?

For more information, please contact Liz Baird, coordinator of distance learning, at (919) 733-7450, ext. 621.

Maps provided by the State Climate Office of North Carolina at NC State University.

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