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Groundhog Day: A Brief History

February 1, 2024 at 04:48 PM EST
By Weatherbug Meteorologist, Mark Ellinwood
Punxsutawney Phil during his 2020 winter forecast, AP Photo/Barry Reeger

Every February 2nd, Punxsutawney Phil emerges from his burrow to make a prognostication of how the rest of winter will unfold.

If the legendary groundhog sees his shadow that morning, then tradition dictates that six more weeks of cold winter chill are on the way. If Phil does not see his shadow, then warmer temperatures and an early spring are anticipated.

The tradition, which likely has roots from a German celebration called Candlemas, has been ongoing on Gobbler's Knob in western Pennsylvania since the 1800s. Since its inception, other groundhogs and creatures have also taken up the seasonal forecast across the United States and Canada.

Phil overwhelmingly calls for six more weeks of winter, by a roughly 5-to-1 margin against having an early spring. Despite the deeply-rooted tradition, the forecast verification is not stellar, with Phil's prognostications hitting the mark about 40% of the time.

During the slow season, Phil lives in the Punxsutawney Library with his wife Phyllis. Their home consists of a living space, a bathroom and two sleeping dens. Not a bad abode for the first family of groundhogs.

Image Credit: AP Photo/Barry Reeger, 2020

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