As we approach the end of one of the strangest Januarys in Maine's weather history, there's a glimmer of hope for snow lovers out there. January hasn't kind to winter enthusiasts, with above-average temperatures and far-below-normal snowfall totals, January 2021 has resembled more of what you'd expect to see in November or March. For those holding out hope that winter is not lost, and that Mother Nature still has a few storms left for us, you may get your wish as the calendar turns to February next week.

Shared on Twitter by Robert LaRoche, a pair of long-range forecasting models are calling for a nice, juicy snowstorm to roll right over Maine on Groundhog Day or the day after. This storm system would pack plenty of punch, leaving the entire state with at least 10 inches, and portions of southern Maine could easily see over a foot. But there's a catch.

It's yet another long-range forecasting model promise in a winter full of long-range forecasting model promises that haven't come true. Maine has seen plenty of storm-related action over the past several weeks, it just hasn't yielded any results. Either atmospheric conditions haven't been ripe for snow or high pressure has been pushing storms off into the ocean, something you'd normally see in the warmer months.

So is a Groundhog Day storm a guarantee? Not yet. But given the current weather pattern Maine is in, put it into the category of "likely" right now. With Punxsutawny Phil taking the year off, maybe this is the groundhog's way of telling us to expect six more weeks of winter?

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