Monday, February 2, 2009

Delphi Ground Hog Predicts Six More Weeks of Winter

Happy Ground Hog Day! I am still checking on the Prairie Dogs out at Columbian Park Zoo, but the official ground hog for the Lafayette area has predicted six more weeks of winter. I will be back with more details and let you know if I agree. I wanted to wish a Happy Valentine's Day to my wife Julie. As you know this is a holiday in the Prangley family and we chose this day to tell each other how important we are to each other. It seems like yesterday when I first saw Julie walk past me at a television station in Jacksonville. She was absolutely stunning and I asked if she needed a weather forecast. Well she did and the rest is history. Three kids later she is the best of the best and she was one long-range forecast that came true. I called for a bright future and she has been everything and more. I need to run some errands. Have a great day and tune in today and tonight. Meteorologist Stefanie Davis has special in-depth coverage on our ground hog. Here are some more background facts on the Delphi Ground Hog.

While Pennsylvania has Punxsutawney Phil, locally we count on Chuckie Wheezer.The groundhog lives at the Wildcat Wildlife Center in Carroll County. Assistant Director Denise Hays says that the cute critter has a special name because of her interesting characteristics. Chuckie Wheezer is a ground hog that was brought to us, she was born in the summer of 2006 so this is her third Groundhog Day. She got her name, Chuckie-Wheezer, because the volunteers were split on a name they liked. Some of the volunteers liked Chuckles, because she made everyone laugh, and then some of the volunteers liked Wheezer because she actually has some respiratory issues, and she wheezes especially when she gets playing and running around and stuff like that. So they put it together and came up with Chuckie Wheezer.

Her forecast accuracy is an amazing 100% her first two years serving as our area Ground Hog. Her forecast of six more weeks of winter will always be remembered in 2007. The Blizzard of 2007 arrived within two weeks of her forecast. Can she keep the streak alive? Will the stratospheric warming and big block forming near Greenland verify her third consecutive forecast. I can say she went above and beyond this year by making a special visit to our WLFI weather studios this morning before her final prediction. That is one hard-working Ground Hog.

Developing....

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh...darn! I was looking forward to an early spring!

Anonymous said...

Bring on the blizzard!!! What do you think our chances are?

Anonymous said...

I love the temperatures in the seven day forecast. I also see where both South Bend stations are calling for these temps.
Hopefully, the road crews will get a break. All of them have been doing a great job!!!

F/C

Anonymous said...

I am so done with winter!! Bring on Spring!! Seriously get a little old. Ready to keep my car clean for more than 1 day.

Anonymous said...

Someone sent this to me in an e-mail author unknown.


It's winter in Indiana
And the gentle breezes blow
Seventy miles an hour
At twenty-five below.

Oh, how I love Indiana
When the snow's up to your butt.
You take a breath of winter
And your nose gets frozen shut.

Yes, the weather here is wonderful
So I guess I'll hang around.
I could never leave Indiana
'Cause I'm frozen to the ground!!



Richard

Anonymous said...

Oh ! I love that poem !!! Hope to see a *BLIZZARD* still yet this year !!! Mike you football prediction was sooo close ! But, I was truly rooting for the Cardinals to win !
boo-hoo-hoo ! :(

Anonymous said...

Wow you guys celebrate Valentine's Day for 2 weeks? I'm jealous.

Anonymous said...

had a few flurries flying in Monticello a few minutes ago.

Anonymous said...

woohoo,,6 more weeks. maybe we can have a major one before ole man winter retires,, i know we usually get a good snow around tournament time,, but i want a major one or better yet a Historical one,,, then we can have spring..

Anonymous said...

I hope we get a blizzard here in white county. Then we dont have to go to school and we can play video games all day better yet no school for a week like the one in 1978 that my parents always tell me about. OH PLEASE BLIZZARD COME TO INDIANA WE WELCOME U

Anonymous said...

amen to that nick,,,,,another white countyian

Anonymous said...

Looks like Chuckie Wheezer is a well fed little hog. He must be happy in his home!