Current:Home > MarketsDid the groundhog see his shadow? See results of Punxsutawney Phil's 2024 winter forecast -FundGuru
Did the groundhog see his shadow? See results of Punxsutawney Phil's 2024 winter forecast
View
Date:2025-04-12 06:10:15
It's official: spring is right around the corner.
Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow in front of thousands of spectators Friday morning at Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, part of the annual Groundhog Day tradition celebrated in the U.S. and Canada. That means, according to the legend, we're in for an early spring.
This marks the first time since 2020 that Phil predicted an early spring, and the 21st time since records were kept.
If you look at the data, Punxsutawney Phil has a record of seeing his shadow more often than not. Prior to 2024, the groundhog had seen his shadow 107 times and not seen his shadow 20 times, according to the York Daily Record, part of the USA TODAY Network. There were a few years in the late 1800s where there was no record of his forecast, and 1943 was the only year he did not make an appearance.
While Punxsutawney Phil may be arguably the most famous groundhog around, he is not the only critter making a weather forecast today. There's also Buckeye Chuck in Ohio, General Beauregard Lee in Georgia and Staten Island Chuck in New York, who all emerged from burrows Friday morning to predict either the continuing winter or coming spring.
Here's what to know about Punxsutawney Phil.
How accurate is Punxsutawney Phil?His Groundhog Day predictions aren't great, data shows.
What has Phil predicted in the past?See his full forecast record dating back to the 1800s
Why do we celebrate Groundhog Day?
Groundhog Day is celebrated every February 2, the same day as Candlemas, where some of the holiday's traditions originate.
Candlemas was traditionally aligned with the anticipation of planting crops, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac, and seeing sunshine on the day was said to indicate winter's return.
In Europe, people traditionally looked to bears or badgers to look for the sign of returning winter or coming spring, but when German immigrants arrived in Pennsylvania, they instead used groundhogs to make the forecast instead.
Since 1993's "Groundhog Day" movie starring Bill Murray, visitPA says more than 30,000 people travel to Punxsutawney each year to see Punxsutawney Phil's prediction.
What did Punxsutawney Phil say in 2023?
Last year, Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his burrow, saw his shadow and predicted six more weeks of winter, a forecast in line with his predictions from the last two years.
Watch the 2024 Groundhog Day replay from Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania
veryGood! (27395)
Related
- Tree trimmer dead after getting caught in wood chipper at Florida town hall
- 61-year-old man has been found -- three weeks after his St. Louis nursing home suddenly closed
- Ronnie Long, North Carolina man who spent 44 years in prison after wrongful conviction, awarded $25M settlement
- Record-breaking cold threatens to complicate Iowa’s leadoff caucuses as snowy weather cancels events
- DoorDash steps up driver ID checks after traffic safety complaints
- Georgia passes Michigan, Alabama in early 2025 CFP National Championship odds
- An Oregon judge enters the final order striking down a voter-approved gun control law
- 61-year-old man has been found -- three weeks after his St. Louis nursing home suddenly closed
- Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
- With threats, pressure and financial lures, China seen as aiming to influence Taiwan’s elections
Ranking
- DoorDash steps up driver ID checks after traffic safety complaints
- 4th child dies of injuries from fire at home in St. Paul, Minnesota, authorities say
- A legal battle is set to open at the top UN court over an allegation of Israeli genocide in Gaza
- A teen on the Alaska Airlines flight had his shirt ripped off when the door plug blew. A stranger tried to help calm him down.
- NHL in ASL returns, delivering American Sign Language analysis for Deaf community at Winter Classic
- Yemen’s Houthi rebels launch drone and missile attack on Red Sea shipping, though no damage reported
- DeSantis says nominating Trump would make 2024 a referendum on the ex-president rather than Biden
- Energy drinks like Red Bull, Monster and Rockstar are popular. Which has the most caffeine?
Recommendation
North Carolina trustees approve Bill Belichick’s deal ahead of introductory news conference
Ad targeting gets into your medical file
Federal fix for rural hospitals gets few takers so far
Michigan finishes at No. 1, Georgia jumps to No. 3 in college football's final US LBM Coaches Poll
How to watch new prequel series 'Dexter: Original Sin': Premiere date, cast, streaming
Franz Beckenbauer, World Cup winner for Germany as both player and coach, dies at 78
Republicans are taking the first step toward holding Hunter Biden in contempt of Congress
The largest great ape to ever live went extinct because of climate change, says new study