Here's something we probably all could have predicted: It seems that Punxsutawney Phil, Pennsylvania's famous weather-predicting groundhog, is "right" about half the time.
The Washington Post put 30 years of Phil's forecasts to the test by calculating the average daily temperatures during the six weeks after Groundhog Day in various regions of the United States. The results "show that while Phil was technically right more times than not in some cities, the average temperatures between shadow and non-shadow years were slight at best."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
'US tests ties with Israelis'Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
-
Marc Quinn's Light into Life: an 'al fresco treasure-hunt' of sculpture at KewThe Week Recommends Massive metallic sculptures dotted across the gardens explore 'links between nature and humanity'
-
Natalie Elphicke: the Tory defector facing a backlash from both sidesSpeed Read MP for Dover's hawkish stance on immigration and defence of sex offender ex-husband raises eyebrows among her new colleagues
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproarSpeed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain PrizeSpeed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
-
Is Downton Abbey set to return for a final film?Speed Read Imelda Staunton reveals that a third movie may be in the pipeline
-
'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 winsspeed read The film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)
-
'Rust' armorer convicted of manslaughterspeed read The film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin during rehearsal
-
The Beatles are getting 4 intersecting biopicsSpeed Read Director Sam Mendes is making four separate movies, each told from the perspective of one band member
-
Taylor Swift to Miley Cyrus: female artists dominate 2024 GrammysSpeed Read SZA, Phoebe Bridgers and Lainey Wilson were also among the winners at LA gala
