“The cold grows stronger as the days grow longer” is a saying that rings true this weekend.
It is a cruel paradox that February is often our coldest month of the year, even though the daylight is now increasing rapidly, by almost three minutes each day. But even as the days grow longer the temperature remains stuck in winter. That is because the seas around
Britain are approaching their coldest of the year. Just like a radiator, the seas store the sun’s energy from the summer and slowly cool off in winter, until by late February they are at their lowest temperatures.
Today marks the end of what could be called the “solar winter”, the three months of the year with the shortest day lengths. It is probably no coincidence that this is also Candlemas Day, which is rich in folklore weather forecasts for the rest of winter.
“If Candlemas Day be fair and bright, winter will have another flight. But if Candlemas Day bring clouds and rain, winter is gone and won’t come again.”
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In the US, today is Groundhog Day. If a hibernating groundhog comes out of his burrow and sees his shadow, there is supposed to be another six weeks of winter; no shadow means spring is on the way. But the groundhog has a very poor forecasting success.