Punxsutawney Phil delivered his eagerly awaited weather forecast for Groundhog Day 2026 after seeing his shadow on Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania on Monday, predicting an additional six weeks of winter.
Groundhog Day 2026: Handler AJ Dereume holds Phil the groundhog, as Phil makes his prediction about how long winter will last, during the Groundhog Day festival at Gobbler’s Knob, Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, US, February 2, 2026. REUTERS/UlanThe annual event, which takes place on February 2 each year, took place in front of thousands of spectators who converged on the famous site, located about 80 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, on Monday morning. According to established tradition, when the groundhog sees his shadow, it is assumed that winter will last another six weeks.
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Did Punxsutawney Phil see his shadow today?AJ Dereume, who is Phil’s handler, pulled the groundhog out of its hole and demonstrated it to the crowd. Tom Dunkel, president of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, explained Phil’s prognosis after seeing his shadow at the Staten Island Zoo’s Groundhog Day event.
Punxsutawney Phil has seen his shadow 110 times since record keeping began, predicting longer winters than early springs.
How reliable is Punxsutawney Phil’s forecast?According to the Groundhog Club archives, Punxsutawney Phil observed his shadow 108 times, which is 84% of the 129 occurrences he predicted the weather. He noted his streak every year from 1903 to 1933, marking the 31st longest streak.
According to NOAA, with over 135 years of experience, its overall accuracy rate stands at just 35%.
What is Groundhog Day? Here’s why we celebrate itGroundhog Day is observed on February 2 every year. Although the day is not recognized as a federal holiday, it is significant because it is the day when the famous groundhog Punxsutawney Phil gives his weather forecast.
According to tradition, if Phil sees his shadow, it means there will be an extra six weeks of winter. Similarly, if he cannot see his shadow, it suggests that an early spring is on the way.
Groundhog Day coincides with the Christian festival of Candlemas, from which some of the holiday’s customs derive, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
Candlemas were instituted to foretell the planting season, making predictions of either an early spring or extended winter a central theme of the celebration. It was believed that sunshine on Candlemas indicated the continuation of winter.
