Punxsutawney Phil, the well-known groundhog, has predicted six additional weeks of winter in the United States during his weather forecast event in Pennsylvania. A large gathering watched as the woodchuck emerged from his tree stump at Gobbler’s Knob to make his annual prediction. The crowd greeted him with chants of “Phil, Phil, Phil.”
AJ Dereume presented Punxsutawney Phil to the audience during the Groundhog Day celebrations on February 2, 2025, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Phil’s handlers, dressed in top hats, announced that he saw his shadow, signaling six more weeks of wintery weather. This tradition dates back over a century, with roots in European folklore, and gained fame through the 1993 film “Groundhog Day” starring Bill Murray.
If Phil does not see his shadow, the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club members declare an early spring. However, if he sees it, winter is expected to last six more weeks. Phil’s predictions are often debated, as he has forecasted extended winters more frequently than early springs, and studies have shown his accuracy to be less than 50%.
As Phil was carefully lifted from his stump, his handler announced, “Phil’s made a choice!” The event featured fireworks, confetti, and live music for the audience’s enjoyment. The announcer, addressing the crowd, praised Phil as the “seer of seers” and “prognosticator of all prognosticators.” Reading from a scroll, he conveyed Phil’s decision: “I miss my burrow, I miss my coop, so I’m headed back down… There’s a shadow up here, get ready for six more weeks of winter this year!”