In a tradition dating back to 1887, Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his burrow on Gobbler’s Knob in Pennsylvania on February 2, 2026, saw his shadow under sunny skies, and predicted six more weeks of winter, continuing his long-standing pattern despite sub-zero temperatures and boos from the tens of thousands gathered to witness the famous groundhog’s forecast. According to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, seeing his shadow signals an omen of six more weeks of bad weather, prompting Phil to return to his hole, while cloudy conditions without a shadow would indicate an early spring; this year, the sun prevailed, Phil selected the winter scroll, and the crowd groaned in response.
Last year, Phil also predicted six more weeks of winter, a call he has made 20 times since 2000. His handlers kept his post-prediction photo session brief due to the extreme cold, prioritizing his safety.
While Phil remains the most famous weather prophet, he’s far from the most accurate. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s 2025 ranking of 19 weather-predicting animals placed Staten Island Chuck first with an 85% accuracy rate. Punxsutawney Phil ranked 17th out of 19, with only a 35% success rate. Other entrants include taxidermied groundhogs, prairie dogs, ducks, alligators, and turtles that have joined the fun tradition.
The Groundhog Day ritual, rooted in German folklore and Pennsylvania Dutch customs, continues to draw massive crowds each year despite Phil’s modest track record.
