Preempting Phil: Will the groundhog see his shadow? NWS gives its predictions for SC, NC
The National Weather Service preempted Punxsutawney Phil in predicting the coming weather in the Carolinas.
If the NWS is correct, Phil won’t see his shadow Sunday at Gobbler’s Knob in Pennsylvania, signaling an early spring.
The National Weather Service in Wilmington, North Carolina on Saturday released its “Outlook for Spring 2020 Across the Carolinas,” which said outlooks from the Climate Prediction Center show an increased likelihood of above-normal temperatures from March through May.
The outlook for precipitation, however, “is less certain as there are no clear signals to favor above, near, or below normal rainfall across South Carolina,” according to the data. North Carolina, meanwhile, is forecast to see “slightly enhanced potential for above-normal rainfall,” according to the predictions.
NWS graphics showed the entirety of South Carolina with a 50-60 percent chance of above-normal temperatures in the coming months. The graphic shows most of North Carolina with the same chances of above-normal temperatures, with a northwestern portion of the state shaded for 40-50 percent chances of warmer weather.
In Myrtle Beach, the first day of February had high temperatures around 55 degrees Saturday. Super Bowl Sunday will be a sunny day in the Myrtle Beach area, with the warmest temperatures of the weekend predicted. Clear skies and sunshine will continue into Monday, forecasters say.
High temperatures are forecast to rise through the weekend and into next week, the weather service reports.
Around 7:20 p.m. Sunday, Punxsutawney Phil is expected to emerge from his stump and look for his shadow. Time will tell whether he and forecasters are on the same page.
This story was originally published February 1, 2020 at 1:25 PM.
