Each Groundhog Day, Punxsutawney Phil makes his prediction about a late end to winter weather or early start to spring temperatures. Here’s how accurate his forecasts have been over the years.
Watch live coverage of Punxsutawney Phil’s 2024 Groundhog Day prediction starting at 7 a.m. ET in the video player above.
Warm weather fans hoping for an early end to winter may not want to put their faith in on Groundhog Day.
Phil’s been used for weather predictions for more than 130 years. According to the legend, if Phil sees his shadow on Feb. 2, he predicts six additional weeks of winter. But if he doesn’t see his shadow, he predicts an early spring. Unfortunately, his forecasting track record since 1887 has been a bit spotty.
„Predicting the arrival of springtime for an entire country, especially one with such varied regional climates as the United States, isn’t easy! Phil’s track record is evidence of that,“ according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.What has Phil predicted on Groundhog Day?
Phil makes his prediction on Feb. 2, halfway between the and Spring Equinox. More often than not, Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, a sign of more winter.
Between 1887 and 2023, the forecasting groundhog saw his shadow 107 times, according to NOAA. There was no shadow to be seen 20 times. During the late 1800s, 10 years were lost because no records were kept, according to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club.
