Groundhog Day 2025: Punxsutawney Phil sees shadow, expecting 6 more weeks of winter.
This article has been updated to include new details.
It’s confirmed: We’re in for an additional six weeks of winter, as predicted by Punxsutawney Phil and his shadow.
On Sunday, the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club’s Inner Circle—responsible for hosting this annual event and taking care of Phil—brought him out of his burrow. Spectators gathered to watch as cameras broadcast his appearance nationwide. Phil signaled in “groundhogese” that he indeed saw his shadow, suggesting a prolonged winter ahead.
Phil has been making seasonal predictions since 1886, with the first official Groundhog Day celebration occurring a year later. However, this tradition hasn’t always proven reliable for forecasting weather.
Let’s take a look at Punxsutawney Phil’s weather prediction history.
NOAA evaluates Punxsutawney Phil’s forecasts
As per the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Phil has an overall accuracy of just 35% during his 135 years of predictions.
Out of the 129 instances where Phil has forecast the weather, he has recognized his shadow 108 times (which is 84% of the occasions). His longest continuous record of shadow sightings spanned 31 years, from 1903 to 1933.
Top 10 weather-predicting animals in the US
It appears that Phil has some rivals in the realm of weather forecasting. A recent study by NOAA indicates that these other skilled animals in the U.S. have higher accuracy rates.
NOAA predicts a warmer future for the US
Climatologically, the coldest months in the U.S. are December, January, and February, meaning winter usually has quite a bit of time left when the groundhog emerges.
NOAA has released its temperature forecast for February, March, and April, suggesting warmer conditions in the Northeast. Additionally, much of the Southern and Eastern regions are likely to experience above-average temperatures, according to NOAA, while the Northwest may see cooler-than-average conditions.
The celebration of Groundhog Day
Every year on February 2, crowds gather at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to partake in the festivities surrounding Punxsutawney Phil’s forecast.
The holiday has its roots in ancient pagan and Christian customs, as per the Old Farmer’s Almanac. It is also referred to as St. Brigid’s Day.
German immigrants brought this tradition to America, as noted by the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. Initially, they would check whether a hedgehog saw its shadow before traveling to America, instead of a groundhog.
CONTRIBUTING Julia Gomez, Doyle Rice, and Jim Sergent
SOURCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, and YSL News research
This article has been updated to include new details.
