This winter has been harsh, especially in the Midwest and East Coast, but in just a couple weeks, on Groundhog Day, we’ll find out if we’re going to find out we’re going to have an extra long winter.
On Feb. 2nd, Punxsutawney Phil, the “Weather Predictor Extraordinaire,” will predict if the lousy weather will last six more weeks if he sees his shadow. But if he doesn’t, then spring will come to a lot quicker.
The tradition has spanned centuries, but what does a groundhog have to do with winter? Well, its origin is a lot more bizarre than you think.
Here is everything you need to know about the prophetic rodent and the day dedicated to his winter forecast.
Groundhog handler Ben Hughes holds up Punxsutawney Phil. Phil did not see his shadow predicting an early spring during festivities Feb. 2, 2007.
When is Groundhog Day?
Groundhog Day is on Monday, Feb. 2nd.
The celebrations revolving around Groundhog Day will go one for multiple days that week, Phil will make his prediction early in the morning.
What is Groundhog Day?
People flock to Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, on February 2nd every year to be a part of the celebrations revolving around Punxsutawney Phil’s winter forecast.
The holiday stems from a centuries-old Pagan and Christian tradition, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. It is also known as St. Brigid’s Day.
German settlers brought the tradition to America, according to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. But, before they made the trek to America, they checked to see if a hedgehog saw its shadow, not a groundhog.
Due to a lack of hedgehogs, the settlers began using another hibernating mammal: The groundhog.
The day eventually evolved into what we know it today. In 1886, Groundhog Day was acknowledged for the first time in Punxsutawney by a local newspaper, Weathers Wags, according to the club. In 1887, the first official pilgrimage to see Phil on Gobbler’s Knob while he made his predictions were made.
In 2025, 138 years later, Punxsutawney Phil is making his predictions to a sold-old crowd.
Who is Punxsutawney Phil?
Punxsutawney Phil is the famous groundhog who predicts the weather in “Groundhogese,” according to Punxsutawney Groundhog Club.
According to the club, Punxsutawney Phil is also known as the:
-
Prognosticator of Prognosticators
-
Weather Predictor Extraordinaire
When he isn’t predicting the weather, he is at home, with his wife, Phyliss.
While the Groundhog Day tradition as we know it today started in 1887, Phil has been making his predictions since 1886.
Do other states have animals predicting the weather?
Phil isn’t the only weather-predicting groundhog. Shout out to General Beauregard Lee in Georgia, Buckeye Chuck in Ohio, and Staten Island Chuck in New York. However, Phil is the most famous, and according to his website, “the only true weather forecasting groundhog. The others are just impostors.”
Did Phil see his shadow last year? Was he right?
In 2024, Phil predicted we would see an early spring, and he was technically correct!
Because 2024 was a leap year, winter was a day early, according to News-Press, a part of the USA TODAY Network.
How accurate is Phil?
While Phil is the most famous, he isn’t the most accurate.
The so-called psychic is only right around 39% of the time, according to the Stormfax Weather Almanac.
In comparison, Ohio’s groundhog, Buckeye Chuck, has been correct an estimated 75% of the time, according to Marion Star, a part of the USA TODAY Network.
Contributing: Zach Tuggle, Marion Star; C. A. Bridges, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida; Emily DeLetter, Eric Lagatta, Jordan Mendoza; USA TODAY
Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. You can connect with her on LinkedIn, follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Groundhog Day 2025: When is it and how did it start?
