This Week's Weather - For Real. Updated Monday 8 am

-  As I said - those schools close to the coast and those with the greatest fear of legal action are closing.  West Hartford and Simsbury will probably have early dismissal.  I have yet to see a snowflake.

                  Punx$utawney Phil, 

                  a major touri$t attraction

Today is Groundhog Day.  In Punxsatawny, Pennsylvania, it is currently 37 degrees Fahrenheit and snowing.  Yet the most famous groundhog money-maker, Punx$utawney Phil, apparently saw his shadow when he was dragged from his warm cage out into the cold where people shoved cameras in his face.

According to Stormfax, you would have better luck flipping a coin.  Phil has predicted the weather accurately only 39% of the time since his first time out in 1887, proving that the Punxsatawny Chamber of Commerce are not the folks to turn to for weather forecasting.  

(Photo: Dan and Lin Dzurisin, 
Creative Commons license)

Today is a Cross-Quarter Day, halfway between the solstice and the equinox.  While it will take a while for the northern hemisphere to warm up, the hour of sunlight that we have gained since the Winter Solstice is definitely affecting Mother Nature.  I saw skunk footprints in the back yard yesterday.  Mr. Skunk and Mr. Woodchuck have been wakened by the strengthening sunlight, and are in the mood for Love Sex.  Once they find a female, the groundhogs will go back to sleep until the new clover is up.  The skunks are likely to be wandering about looking for snacks. 

Maple sap is running, and I saw skunk cabbage shoots in the swamps yesterday.  Cardinals, crows, and chickadees are practicing their spring songs, and woodpeckers are starting to drum.  Yes, under the snow Spring is here already.

The snowstorm currently whacking Punxsatawny, PA will pass far south of Connecticut, bringing us only flurries on Monday.  I am not predicting any affect on the school day. a few inches of snow.  Afternoon activities will be canceled, schools in southwestern CT schools and those with a greater fear of legal action will close early.

Wednesday will be a mess.  While the best snow storms for us are the nor'easters that pass just to the south and east of us on the 70/40 benchmark, this one will be too far north and south for maximum snow.  We will be on the 'warmish' side of it.  However, the wind patterns are expected to create another, smaller storm that will pass right over the 70/40, adding snow to the mix.

What will we get?  I am more and more confident of a wintry MESS on Wednesday.  I seriously doubt there will be school anywhere in Connecticut.  Good day to cancel plans and stay home.  Those of you with wells, make sure you have extra water on hand.

Then, dig out.  A storm that has not yet formed over the west coast jut might wipe out next weekend.  Nothing definite yet, but it never hurts to start being afraid.