Punxsutawney Phil may have called for an early spring but mother nature appears to disagree as rain and winter weather fall over Corvallis.
Local weather has turned from 60 degrees and sunny to a forecast full of rain, winter weather advisories and intermittent possibilities of snow for the next week, according to the National Weather Service’s seven day forecast.
These conditions are expected to extend throughout the month, according to the Weather Channel’s March monthly forecast.
While these kinds of long term predictions only have roughly a 50% chance of accurately predicting weather conditions according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, students at Oregon State University have seen signs that this time, the forecast may be right.
“I knew it was raining but all of this was too much,” said Victorya Chanel, a third-year biohealth science student at OSU who was walking in the Student Experience Center Plaza when the mix of hail, rain and snow began on Feb 29.
In true Oregon weather fashion, on Feb. 29 the temperatures dropped to the high thirties and all kinds of precipitation, although the sun did show itself for a brief moment.
“Mother nature just really tricked me, I thought it was getting warmer, then today happened and it started snowing,” said Remi Komagata, a fourth year kinesiology student at OSU.
All of this comes after Oregon residents had a taste of the early spring predicted by the famous groundhog when he did not see his shadow on Feb 2. It now, however, appears as if the groundhog was wrong once again and winter will continue for a bit longer.
“I am just going to plead, pray and beg for spring to come soon and for the sun to come out,” Komagata said.
“I’m kind of sad that … the groundhog kinda just tricked us,” Chanel said.
The small taste of snow on the last day of February however, was no tease as a full downpour of snow began to paint OSU’s Corvallis campus white the next day on March 1.
“I want to have high hopes (about warmer weather) but I don’t want to get disappointed,” Komagata said. “I can’t do this anymore, it’s too much for me.”
For now it seems like the forecast is right, and it’s time for students to trade in their hammocks and picnic blankets for rainboots and a warm jacket once again.
