After a week of harsh winter storms, Punxsutawney Phil — the most popular weather-predicting animal in the country — awoke from his seasonal slumber to deliver a highly-anticipated annual forecast on how long the cold will linger.

Phil delivered a disappointing Groundhog Day forecast for many already growing weary of the freezing temperatures. At 7:25 a.m. Feb. 2, Phil saw his shadow, meaning six more weeks of winter are ahead, according to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club’s website.

But do Mississippi forecasters agree with Phil’s prediction, made more than 1,000 miles away from the Gulf Coast?

Here’s what to know.

Is more winter in store for the MS Gulf Coast?

The Mississippi Gulf Coast will continue to see winter temperatures — just not as cold as it’s been recently, according to local weather forecasts.

A monthly Accuweather forecast shows temperatures warming up after this week, with highs in the 70s around Valentine’s Day weekend. By March the region will be well away from freezing temperatures, with the lowest temperatures forecasted in the high-forties, according to experts.

According to local weather experts at WLOX, the region should be safe from any more arctic blasts this season.

“Even if the groundhog is calling for ‘six more weeks of winter,’ perhaps it’ll be closer to our regular winter instead of the polar bear cold snaps that we’ve seen over the last month or so,” WLOX meteorologists said.

Why doesn’t MS have their own groundhog?

With the climate along the Mississippi Gulf Coast being so different from Pennsylvania, some might wonder why Mississippi doesn’t have their own weather-predicting groundhog.

One reason is that groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, are rare on the Mississippi Coast.

The closest rodent forecaster to the Mississippi Coast is Pierre C. Shadeaux, a nutria based at the Zoo of Acadiana in Broussard, Louisiana.

This year, Pierre saw his shadow at about 7:15 a.m., meaning the Gulf Coast can expect a short spring and a long, hot summer, according to rodent lore, KATC reported.

What other states have weather-predicting animals?

Several states have had local weather-forecasting animals. Here’s what they are by state, according to the World Population Review:

Alabama: Sand Mountain Sam, an opossum
Arizona:Agua Fria Freddie, a rattlesnake
California: Mojave Maxine, a desert tortoise
Colorado: Boulder, a marmot Connecticut: Chuckles XI, a groundhog
Florida: Owlivia and Owliver, owls
Georgia: General Beauregard “Beau” Lee, a groundhog
Idaho: Boisi Bill, a stuffed prairie dog
Illinois: Gertie, a groundhog
Indiana: Grubby, a groundhog
Iowa: Polk County Paula, a groundhog mascot
Kentucky: Cinnamon, a Guinea pig
Louisiana: Pierre C. Shadeaux, a nutria
Maine: Kennebec Kenny, a groundhog mascot
Maryland: Western Maryland Murray, a groundhog
Massachusetts: Ms. G, a groundhog
Michigan: Woody, a groundhog
Missouri: Tater, a hedgehog
Montana: Bitterroot Bill, a stuffed yellow-bellied marmot
Nebraska: Unadilla Bill, a stuffed groundhog
Nevada: Mojave Max, a desert tortoise
New Jersey: Milltown Mel and Essex Ed, groundhogs
New Mexico: Rio Grande Ralph, a prairie dog
New York: Staten Island Chuck, a groundhog
North Carolina: Queen Charlotte, a groundhog
Ohio: Buckeye Chuck, a groundhog
Oklahoma: Will and Wiley, grizzly bears
Tennessee: Chattanooga Chuck, a groundhog
Texas: Big Al, an alligator
Utah: Sunset Sam, a Guinea pig
Virginia: Chesapeake Chuck, a groundhog
Washington: Snohomish Slew, a bullfrog
West Virginia: French Creek Freddie, a groundhog
Wisconsin: Jimmy, a groundhog

weather-prep

Record-breaking heat spreads across US, experts say. How hot could MS Coast get?

Get unlimited digital access

#ReadLocal