Museum rolls out red carpet for Sir Walter Wally
The star of Groundhog Day to make his official weather prediction Feb 2 with special guest, Mayor Charles Meeker
January 24 , 2007
RALEIGH -- Cold one day, hot the next. Local meteorologists may as well scrap all that expensive radar and try using a roulette wheel to predict the weather. At the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, we prefer to ask the animals. Come join us for the 10th annual Groundhog Day celebration on Friday, February 2, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and find out what Wally thinks.
Sir Walter Wally, the Museum's groundhog, will make his weather prediction during the official shadow ceremony beginning at noon. Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker will join Museum educator John Connors, outfitted in top hat and tails, to assist Wally with the forecast. If Wally sees his shadow, we're in for six more weeks of winter. Although not as well known nationally as Punxsutawney Phil, Wally has been gaining recognition with his amazing accuracy, and this year has been added to The Weather Channel's list of national representatives.
Following the ceremony, Wally moves inside to his special station where those with cameras can pose for pictures alongside the famous weather predictor. Additional stations give you a chance to learn about groundhogs and hibernation as you meet a variety of live animals and discover how they make it through the winter. Or you can learn about thunderstorms and the science behind forecasting in two presentations by the State Climate Office, in the first floor auditorium at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Schools from across North Carolina will be keeping a close eye on Wally's prediction by comparing their findings to his via the Web site (www.naturalsciences.org). Anyone can download a free Groundhog Day Kit from the site, which includes a Weather Watch Activity Guide with activities about weather and groundhogs for grades K-8. You'll also find complete Groundhog Day results from previous years thanks to a collaboration between the Museum, North Carolina State Climate Office and the University of North Carolina Department of Geography.
The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, in downtown Raleigh, documents and interprets the natural history of the state of North Carolina through exhibits, research, collections, publications, and educational programming. Hours: Mon.-Sat., 9 am to 5 pm, and Sun., noon to 5 pm. Admission is free. Visit the Museum on the Web at naturalsciences.org. The Museum is an agency of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, William G. Ross Jr., Secretary.
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