Groundhog Day 2025: Punxsutawney Phil makes his winter prediction
It is time to put together for six extra weeks of winter, in keeping with Punxsutawney Phil, who did see his shadow!
PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. – As we speak is the day! The nation’s most well-known groundhog has formally revealed the reply to our burning query – is extra winter on the way in which?
What we all know:
It is time to put together for six extra weeks of winter, in keeping with Punxsutawney Phil, who did see his shadow!
The large rodent emerged from his burrow at daybreak on Sunday to a few knocks on his door and chants of “Phil” as hundreds throughout the nation anxiously awaited his reply.
After being held within the air for all to see, Phil was positioned on a stump to speak together with his internal circle.
Moments later, the scroll was learn, revealing that winter would not be coming to an finish any time quickly!
“I am heading again down there is a shadow up right here, prepare for six extra weeks of winter this yr!”
The backstory:
Yearly, hundreds collect in Pennsylvania’s Gobbler’s Knob as they await the groundhog’s forecast for the remainder of the yr.
Based on legend, there will likely be six extra weeks of winter if he sees his shadow. If he doesn’t, spring comes early.
The annual vacation is at all times held on February 2. This yr, that date lands on Sunday.
Groundhog Day originates from the Christian pageant of Candlemas, a European custom held on February 2 that makes use of a badger or hedgehog to foretell the climate based mostly on its shadow.
When German immigrants settled in Pennsylvania, they swapped the badger for a groundhog, as a result of it was extra widespread within the space.
The U.S. vacation appeared in a neighborhood newspaper in 1886, however the first official journey to Gobbler’s Knob did not occur till the next yr.
Who’s Punxsutawney Phil?
Punxsutawney Phil has been a member of the Groundhog Membership since 1886. The 139-year-old groundhog is alleged to get his longevity by consuming a secret and magical, life-giving brew that solely he can drink.
He goes by many names together with: Br’er Groundhog, Seer of Seers, Prognosticator of Prognosticators, Climate Predictor Extraordinaire and Nationwide Treasure.
Phil is married to a groundhog named Phyllis, who gave start to 2 wholesome infants, Sunny and Shadow, in 2024.
How typically is Punxsutawney Phil appropriate?
Briefly, not nice. Within the final decade, he was proper 30 p.c of the time. And, for those who return 20 years, he was proper 40 p.c of the time.
To evaluate Phil’s accuracy, the FOX 29 Climate Authority in contrast Phil’s nationwide predictions to the temperatures that adopted that February and March.
Taking a look at Philadelphia, Phil has the identical report. Town’s temperature forecast was appropriate solely 40 p.c of the time over 20 years.
Within the final 10 years, he additionally obtained it proper 40 p.c of the time, a slight enchancment over his nationwide forecast.
