Bee Cave Bob predicts early spring

When it comes to predicting the weather, more than likely, we depend on the National Weather Service, Accuweather or other services to tell us what future forecasts will bring.

However, if you’re into placing your trust in a groundhog, who may or may not see his shadow on Feb. 2, you can find out whether winter will be prolonged or there will be an early Spring. 

According to reports from Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, a town located approximately 85 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and where the Groundhog Day event is held, the aptly named Punxsutawney Phil, has been determining the weather forecast since the 1800’s.

On the other hand, we as Texans have a different animal to place weather predictions on and its name is Bee Cave Bob.

Bee Cave Bob originated in 2010, when Texans decided Punxsutawney Phil’s predictions were based on the weather 1,500 miles from Austin and came up with their own animal to make a long range forecast. 

It was decided to have the state’s official small mammal, the armadillo, decide if winter would last longer or if there would be an early spring.  

Held in Bee Cave, a town just outside of Austin, the event is held the same day, Feb. 2 and called Armadillo Day.

Regarding Bee Cave Bob’s method, the armadillo is placed in a small pen and at half-past noon, the armadillo is ushered from a fake culvert onto a slab of concrete painted to look like a highway, and his movements are watched by a “weatherologist.” The armadillo’s prediction is very similar to the groundhog as to whether or not he sees his shadow.

This past Thursday, the two animals differed as Phil saw his shadow that predicted six more weeks of winter.

However, the day was cloudy and  as a result Bob did not see his shadow meaning Texans should see early spring-like weather.

How often the two animals agree on longer winters or earlier springs, the two have only agreed on the same prediction twice in the past five years.