Shadow or no, our winter a bit on the dry side

CHELSEA KROTZER

With no shadow in sight, Punxsutawney Phil predicted an early spring Saturday.

Six fewer weeks of winter means the closest thing the South Sound has to a groundhog, the pocket gopher, could make an earlier appearance from burrows, weather depending.

The reality is the weather could go either way, according to the National Weather Service.

The weather service usually predicts only about a week out at a time. Longer forecasts indicate there is an equal chance for the South Sound to be seeing above normal or below normal levels of precipitation this month, said meteorologist Johnny Burg.

As far as short-term numbers, Olympia is in for a cloudy, dry weekend, followed by rain early next week.

“Some rain is coming in Monday night, and Tuesday looks to be wet with rain likely,” Burg said.

The overall lack of rain is the only thing abnormal so far this winter. Temperatures have stayed in the high 40s and lows in the 30s, falling in line with normal weather patterns.

“It’s normal — but to be dry, that’s not normal,” Burg said. “Usually we have a little bit of rain or something like that.”

More dry weather is expected the week after next, he said.

Chelsea Krotzer: 360-754-5476 ckrotzer@theolympian.com theolympian.com/thisjustin @chelseakrotzer