Punxsutawney Phil makes annual Groundhog Day forecast
The famous groundhog emerged from his burrow on Sunday morning, looked for his shadow and made his annual spring forecast.
Phil emerged from his home at Gobbler’s Knob as the sun rose in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, on Feb. 2. Did he see his shadow? Will there be six more weeks of winter or an early spring?
Soon after the sun rose on the biggest meteorological holiday of the year, the famous rodent resident of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, emerged from his burrow to make his annual Groundhog Day prognostication.
Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow on Sunday morning, signaling six more weeks of winter. This is a reversal from 2024 when Phil called for an early spring.
This year marks the 139th celebration of Groundhog Day. The tradition dates back to the 1800s. Massive crowds gather in central Pennsylvania every year to cheer on the world-famous groundhog and wait to hear his annual forecast.
Groundhog Club handler A.J. Dereume holds Punxsutawney Phil, the weather prognosticating groundhog, during the 138th celebration of Groundhog Day on Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pa., Friday, Feb. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Does Phil's declaration match AccuWeather's spring forecast?
AccuWeather’s long-range forecaster Paul Pastelok was live on the AccuWeather Network with a preview of the spring forecast on Jan. 30.
AccuWeather long-range meteorologists will release their annual United States spring forecast on Wednesday, and the country-wide forecast doesn't look as straightforward as Phil's.
"We're already seeing spring establishing itself in the South," AccuWeather Long-Range Expert Paul Pastelok said. He noted that springlike weather could be sluggish to arrive farther north, with more information to come in Wednesday's detailed seasonal forecast.
Meteorological spring officially begins on Saturday, March 1, while astronomical spring begins on the equinox, which takes place at 5:01 a.m. EST on Thursday, March 20.
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