Punxsutawney Phil Predicts Six More Weeks of Winter

Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania — In the annual Groundhog Day tradition on Monday, February 2, 2026, Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his burrow at Gobbler’s Knob and saw his shadow, signaling a prediction of six more weeks of winter, according to his handlers with the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club.

Tens of thousands of people gathered in the early morning cold to watch the 140th celebration of the folklore event, which dates back to the late 19th century. The tradition holds that if Phil sees his shadow upon emerging — typically on a sunny morning — winter will continue for about six more weeks. If he does not see his shadow, an early spring is traditionally expected.

While the ceremony draws large crowds and festive attention each year, the predictive accuracy of the groundhog’s forecast is debated. According to historical records and analyses by weather experts, Phil’s long-term accuracy rate is relatively low, with estimates often below 50% when compared with actual weather patterns.

The Groundhog Day ritual remains a popular cultural event, blending folklore with community celebration. Regardless of the forecast’s scientific reliability, many attendees enjoy the tradition and its early seasonal optimism — or in this case, the extended run of winter weather.

Meteorologists generally caution that long‑range weather predictions should be based on scientific data, while Phil’s annual forecast is rooted in folklore rather than formal meteorological methods.

As winter continues, residents and weather watchers alike will look both to forecasts from professional meteorologists and the light‑hearted tradition of Groundhog Day to mark the changing of the seasons.