Fuzzy Forecast

[Dave C]

Sssolved without nudges. Nice one and happy birthday Erin

[whimsy]

SSS
Thanks, Rick!
Now head out and celebrate!

(Brrr... and cheers, Erin!)

[CPJohnson]

I'm trying hard...really, I am. But I don't see the way to an answer yet.

[Eric Porter]

I'm trying hard...really, I am. But I don't see the way to an answer yet.

You're not the only one. I needed another nudge from Cap'n Rick.

[cbarbee002]

Forgot to post - - right down my alley as a Bill Murray fan. Have seen this movie so often it seems like Groundhog Day . . . .Oh wait, it is!

[HeadinHome]

SSSuper smooth… easy like Sunday evening. Thanks!

[MarkWoychick]

Solved, no hints needed - thanks, @Cap'n Rick!

[InAJelly]

Sssolved

[Cap'n Rick]

Leaderboard

Well, we're off to a phenomenal start with an even 60 solvers!

boharr (TS)
Wendy Walker (TS)
ajk (TS)
benchen71
Sendhil Revuluri
Kulea
andeux
Tom Wilson
Mr Tex
Danny K Bernstein
Zimodo
ELSavage
DavyGravy
cbarbee002
Berto
LarsCaine
imontoo
Tim
KayW
Schmeel
DCBilly
Cindy Weatherman
Meg
MatthewL
Al Sisti
Hector
DrTom
lbray53
hcbirker
ChrisKochmanski
Tyrpmom
Bird Lives
kurtalert
JM
Carolyn
rjy
Lance
kymike
Darth
woozy
jhseeman
cohdane
Abide
Jaclyn
chocoholic
schmidzy
Sharkicicles
dannyvee
BarbaraK
Augwood
FedexPope
Dave C
whimsy
Eric Porter
HeadinHome
MarkWoychick
DIS
mediocre
InAJelly
michaelm

Please let me know if I missed anyone!

[CPJohnson]

SSSolved, finally! Received another push from @Cap'n Rick.

[Cinny]

Sssolved with a friendly nudge. Great meta -- should have gotten it earlier. Thanks. Cap'n!

[Anita]

Sssolved! Was trying to make this harder than it needed to be.

[Cap'n Rick]

Leaderboard Update

Seven more solvers have come in out of the cold bringing us to 67:

CPJohnson
Cindy Heisler
HeyMikey
Serafin
Anita
Heb
omnilynx

[Cap'n Rick]

Leaderboard Update

Peggy Sue Marlin brings us to 68.

Here's a special bonus nudge for those who may still be stuck:

A wise man once said that if you don't see anything in the grid, title, or prompt, there's only one more place to look.

[Cap'n Rick]

Leaderboard Update

Two more solvers bring us to 70:

SJ
Hidden in 3D

Good luck on today's WSJ, everyone!

[Streroto]

Sssolved. Nice one. Loved the hidden character

[Cap'n Rick]

Leaderboard Update

Four more solvers bring our final total to 74:

Streroto
hoover
Meta World Peace
MikeyG (via an impressive video solve!)

Reveal tomorrow.

Reveal tomorrow.

[Cap'n Rick]

The reveal is coming up later today, but in the meantime, please let us know what you think about the difficulty level of this meta and SSS metas in general via the SSS Meta Difficulty Level poll.

Thanks!
Cap'n Rick

[Cap'n Rick]

Ahoy, Muggles!

The meta answer is "SHADOW", as in the object we had hoped winter weather prognosticator "Punxsutawney Phil" would NOT see last Sunday. But, alas, the little rascal did see his shadow, so we're in for at least 6 more weeks of cold weather. (Brrr!) Aside from being my wife Erin's birthday, "Groundhog Day" is a big annual celebration in central Pennsylvania (where I grew up). It was also the basis of a 1993 movie in which Bill Murray plays a cynical TV weatherman ("Phil Connors") who finds himself reliving the same day over and over when he goes to Punxsutawney to report on the event. This repetition was the key to solving the meta as the clues for symmetrically-placed thematic entries were duplicated (i.e. 1A SUNNY / 72A WINDY (Weather word); 10A HINT / 70A OMEN (Indication); 22A ACCURATE / 57A DEFINITE (Beyond doubt)). First letters, in grid order, spelled the meta answer. Easter eggs included 20A SNEAKY, 59A REPEAT, 26A PORTRAYS, 64A PHIL, Phil's hometown 39A PUNK + 41A SATON + 43A KNEE, and of course my lovely wife 60D ERIN.

Interestingly, when I posted this puzzle last Sunday I hadn't yet solved @MikeyG's "Creature Feature". Imagine my surprise when I discovered his similar theme, answer, and phonetic spelling of "Punxsutawney" in the grid. How fitting that on Groundhog Day we gave meta solvers a bit of repetitive déjà vu!

Thanks for solving, everyone! @DavyGravy is up next on "Smooth Sailing Sundays!"

Until next time!
Cap'n Rick

P.S. When you have a chance, please let us know what you think about the difficulty level of SSS metas so far via this SSS Meta Difficulty poll. Thanks!