Weather Forecast

Groundhog Day derives from a Pennsylvania Dutch superstition that if the groundhog emerges from his burrow on February 2nd and sees his shadow due to clear weather, it will return back into his den and winter will persist for six more weeks. However, if he emerges and does not see his shadow due to cloudiness, the spring season will arrive early. So for 2018, on Groundhog Day, "Will he or will he not see his shadow?" Following the lines of the seemingly illogical, I forecast that on Feb. 2nd it will be cloudy, and Mr. Groundhog will not see his shadow. Thus, spring will arrive early this year. That whole groundhog thing doesn't make sense to me, but I do believe that spring is coming early in 2018. I'm thinking that the snow, ice, mudslides, sub-zero temperatures and the like will have lost their punch by mid to late March. I forecast that although there will be lots of devastating tornadoes this spring, they will be totally upsetting but not so record-breaking. Although there might be a selfie or two of someone with an approaching funnel cloud in the distance, there will be fewer lives lost due to more shelters being built and improved warning systems. The 2017 hurricane season was unusual and is unlikely to repeat itself. The hurricanes picked their paths and packed a powerful punch. I forecast tamer and fewer hurricanes during the 2018 season. I don't think that mother nature is angry with us, nor am I certain that the 2017 season was indicative of the wrath of God as some seem to believe. He has plenty of reasons to be, but I don't think that our Maker is angry with us. The temperatures will continue to be higher in general. The fire season will be normal to slightly above normal relative to the intensity and multiple outbreaks. Also, I suspect that people will make better adjustments regarding their environment relative to forestation. Our prayer should be that there be less spring rain. In some parts of the country, if the heavy snowpacks begin to melt combined with heavy rains, that could be catastrophic. It would be a perfect storm for massive flooding. I anticipate more flooding in 2018 especially in the mid-western and eastern states as a result of the heavy snows this winter. May God forbide the perfect storm. 01172018PS Contest, Weather Forecast 2018, Viv Wigley; 3P