Punxsutawney Phil: "Six More Weeks of Winter Abound"

Punxsutawney Phil: "It is my job this February 2 to look to the skies and report back to you that there is a shadow here on my ground. Six more weeks of Winter abound."

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— Paul Piorek WICC (@paulpiorekwicc.bsky.social) February 2, 2026 at 7:57 AM

February's Full Snow Moon Happens Today at 5:09 p.m. EST

You may have noticed how the Moon has been growing --- or waxing --- over the last two weeks. We didn't see much of the Moon last night, but we will be able to partially see it after it reaches Full Moon stage. That happens at 5:09 p.m. EST this evening. The Moon will rise at 4:59 p.m. local time this afternoon and will set at 7:36 a.m. tomorrow.

So, how did the February Full Moon get its name, anyway? Since the heaviest snow usually falls during this month, native tribes of the North and East most often called February's Full Moon the Full Snow Moon. Some tribes also referred to this Moon as the Full Hunger Moon, since harsh weather conditions in their areas made hunting very difficult.

Remember, Full Moon names date back to the days of the Native Americans, who lived in what is now the Northern and Eastern United States. The tribes kept track of the seasons by giving distinctive names to each recurring Full Moon. Their names were applied to the entire month in which each occurred. There was some variation in the Moon names, but in general, the same ones were current throughout the Algonquin tribes from New England to Lake Superior.

This Moon has also been known as the Full Storm Moon and Full Candles Moon. A Full Moon rises at about the same time the Sun is setting. Since the length of daylight continues to grow each day through the Summer Solstice, today's Full Moon will rise a little later than it did in December or January. In addition, this Full Moon will appear still fairly high in the sky since we're still in Winter.

Paul

Happy Groundhog Day

Monday is Groundhog Day, which is an unofficial weather holiday around these parts. I always look forward to the annual prediction by the Keystone State's most famous rodent. 

This has been a brutally cold Winter so far, and I'm looking forward to an early Spring. We'll know the answer early Monday morning when Punxsutawney Phil makes his prediction just before 7:30 in front of a huge gathering of fans and curiosity seekers.

So, how did Groundhog Day originate, anyway? The earliest known reference to Groundhog Day can be found at the Pennsylvania Dutch Folklore Center at Franklin and Marshall College. According to storekeeper James Morris' diary dated February 4, 1841, "Last Tuesday, the second, was Candlemas Day, the day on which, according to the Germans, the groundhog peeps out of his Winter quarters. If he sees his shadow, he pops back for another six-week nap. But if it remain cloudy, he remains out as the weather is to be moderate."

According to the Old English saying, "If Candlemas be fair and bright, Winter has another flight. If Candlemas brings clouds and rain, Winter will not come again." According to the Scottish, "If Candlemas Day is bright and clear, there will be two Winters in the year." Finally, the Germans believe, "For as the Sun shines on Candlemas Day, so far will the snow swirl until May. For as the snow blows on Candlemas Day, so far will the Sun shine before May."

Over the years, there have been several interesting anecdotes to Groundhog Day. For example, during Prohibition, Phil threatened to impose 60 weeks of Winter on the community if he wasn't allowed a drink. Phil traveled to Washington, DC, in 1986 to meet with President Reagan, and, one year later, he met Pennsylvania Governor Dick Thornberg. In 1993, Columbia Pictures released the movie Groundhog Day, starring comedian Bill Murray, and Phil appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 1995.

Following the release of the movie, annual crowds in excess of 30,000 have visited Gobbler's Knob. The spectacle has turned into a media event and has become commercial, too, with vendors hawking "Phil" tee-shirts, sweatshirts, a plastic Phil bank, Phil ornaments, and a classic Punxsutawney Phil cookbook. I wouldn't mind wearing one of those sweatshirts, in fact!

It is said that Punxsutawney Phil gets his longevity from drinking the "elixir of life," a secret recipe. Phil takes one sip every summer at the Groundhog Picnic and it magically gives him seven more years of life. So the story goes, Punxsutawney Phil was named after King Phillip. Prior to being called Phil, he was called Br'er Groundhog. I'm one of Phil's biggest fans!

Happy Groundhog Day.

Paul

A Cold Weather Advisory Remains in Effect for Southwestern Connecticut Through Saturday Morning

A Cold Weather Advisory remains in effect for Fairfield and New Haven counties until Saturday at 10 a.m. EST: forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.ph...

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— Paul Piorek WICC (@paulpiorekwicc.bsky.social) January 30, 2026 at 5:52 PM

Paul

Significant Winter Storm Delivers More Than One Foot of Snow Across Southwestern Connecticut

The significant Winter storm Sunday delivered more than one foot of snow across most of southwestern Connecticut. In fact, more than 15 inches were measured at the Bridgeport climate station at Sikorsky Memorial Airport. 

The snow began falling just before daybreak Sunday morning and continued through the day into Sunday night. The heaviest snow fell from midday to late afternoon.

The impressive amount pushed this season's total to 33.2" of snow, which is nearly three times the normal average (12.3") through Monday. The monthly total (21.4") is more than triple the normal (6.8") for the same period.

The following photo were taken in my Fairfield neighborhood two days after the snowstorm.

Consider that last year, less than one-half-foot (5.4") fell through the same period. This season's snowfall total is nearly six times greater.

New Fairfield (16.0") and Bethel (15.7") hit the jackpot with the highest reported snow amounts in southwestern Connecticut. Danbury (15.5"), Bridgeport (15.1"), and Shelton (15.0") received at least 15" of snow from the storm.

During the height of the storm early Sunday afternoon, the temperature at Bridgeport was only 11° F with a northeast wind gusting to 30 mph and a -5° wind chill.

In addition to the snow, the prolonged cold spell is another major concern. The last time the temperature eclipsed 32° F at Bridgeport was last Friday, January 23, before an Arctic cold front moved across the region. The temperature is not expected to reach freezing again until early next week.

It appears another snowstorm is possible later this weekend. As far as Winter snow is concerned, it's either "feast or famine." This year, we're enjoying quite a snow "feast."

Paul

More Than One Foot of Snow Blankets Southwestern Connecticut

Here are the latest snowfall reports from southwestern Connecticut as of 1 a.m. EST, courtesy of the National Weather Service.

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— Paul Piorek WICC (@paulpiorekwicc.bsky.social) January 26, 2026 at 5:43 AM

Paul