The Groundhog Will Always Predict Six More Weeks of Winter for North Dakota

In North Dakota, does it really matter what's happening with a groundhog in Punxsutawney, PA on February 2nd? We're getting six more weeks of winter regardless.

Today (February 2nd) is Groundhog Day. The aforementioned groundhog that goes by the name of 'Punxsutawney Phil' emerged from his burrow, saw his shadow and scurried back in, which by tradition, means six more weeks of winter. Does that really matter in North Dakota? Absolutely not.

In six weeks, it will be Friday, March 16th. The average high temperature in Bismarck for March 16th is 40 degrees and the average low is 19. Both of these are much lower than what the rest of the country will experience on average. Those  For us, it's not a big deal. We're used to it. We can handle it. We look at that high of 40 and low of 19 forecast and scoff at it. But for other most of the rest of the country, that's far too cold for mid-March.

Groundhog Day is useless in North Dakota, unless of course, you're referring to the hilarious movie, 'Groundhog Day,' starring Bill Murray. And we're not the only state in which Punxsutawney Phil's fortune telling powers are rendered useless. Minnesota, Wisconsin, and most of the northeast (certainly Maine) will experience cold 40 and below temps through mid-March.

Sometimes people forget where Bismarck, ND is on the map. We're more northern than Minneapolis, almost all of Wisconsin, and parts of Canada, including Toronto, so yeah, it's gonna stay cold regardless of whatever animal sees his shadow or not. Therefore, in North Dakota, Groundhog Day is useless...unless it's a Bill Murray movie.