Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Friday is Feb. 2, and that means for many weather followers, it's Groundhog Day. The likes of Punxsutawney Phil and Dunkirk Dave will predict how much winter we have left, and meteorologists say let them have their fun.
"I enjoy Groundhog Day," says meteorologist Andy Parker of @andyparkertv. "I love that there's a day where we can kind of celebrate the weather even though it is an animal coming out of the ground." Parker says he loves the energy, with people getting excited about the event. "Even though everybody kind of knows it's a little tongue in cheek, it's something in the middle of winter that kind of gives a little little splash," adds Parker.
Does Parker resent the attention the groundhogs get? "No resentment whatsoever. The groundhog has a pretty bad track record," says Parker, who has no trouble putting his record up against the groundhogs'. He notes what Phil does in Pennsylvania doesn't always apply to what happens in Western New York.
WBEN 7 Weather Meteorologist Autumn Lewandowski agrees about the fun. "Who doesn't want to go and see a groundhog come up out of the ground with thousands of other people," says Lewandowski. She say it's something where you can make such light of it, "because there's a 50-50 chance and people make fun of us all the time, so might as well get in on it with a groundhog as well."
When it comes to the attention the groundhogs get, Lewandowski says go for it. "I think they're way more famous than than we are," says Lewandowski.
Both Parker and Lewandowski say the WNY weather picture will feel like spring, with well above the freezing mark even leading towards the end of next week. Lewandowski adds even if the groundhog says otherwise, there's always still six more weeks of winter.
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