The Daily Populous Sunday February 2nd, 2025 evening edition
Authored by abcnews.go.com and submitted by SaltyRavensFan

Phil, the world's most famous groundhog, saw his shadow on Sunday.

Punxsutawney Phil predicts 6 more weeks of winter after waking up to see his shadow on Groundhog Day

Punxsutawney Phil woke up on Sunday and saw his shadow, meaning we are destined for six more weeks of winter, according to legend.

Legend has it that if Punxsutawney Phil, perhaps the world's most famous groundhog, sees his shadow then winter will continue for another six weeks, but if he does't see his shadow spring will come early.

Brittany Dagrava from Wheeling, West Virginia, stands next to Taylor Hunt from Knoxville, Tennessee, during the Groundhog Day festivities, at Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, Feb. 2, 2025. Alan Freed/Reuters

The weather in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, during the announcement was partly cloudy with temperatures hovering at about 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Snow was expected later on Sunday.

Phil's actual prediction, however, takes place ahead of time in a place called Gobbler's Knob, a small hill just outside of the town, and has done so each year since 1887. This year marks the 139th time the event has occurred, according to the Pennsylvania Tourism Office,

AJ Dereume holds up groundhog Punxsutawney Phil, as he makes his prediction on how long winter will last, during the Groundhog Day festivities, at Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, Feb. 2, 2025. Alan Freed/Reuters

The men in top hats surrounding Phil during the ceremony are members of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club Inner Circle. According to their website, their role is to “protect and perpetuate the legend of the great weather-predicting groundhog Punxsutawney Phil.”

Phil's predictions have been fairly even over the past decade or so. From 2015 to 2020, the groundhog predicted a longer winter three times and an early spring three times. But overall, dating back to 1887, according to the Associated Press, Phil has predicted six more weeks of winter more than 100 times.

People pose with Groundhog Club's inner Circle Vice President Dan McGinley, on the day groundhog Punxsutawney Phil makes his prediction on how long winter will last, during the Groundhog Day festivities, at Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, Feb. 2, 2025. Alan Freed/Reuters

In fact, Punxsutawney Phil has now predicted six more weeks of winter 107 times and an early spring only 21 times -- with no record of 10 of those years since 1887, according to The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

In this file photo, Groundhog Club co-handler A.J. Dereume, left, places Punxsutawney Phil, in his carrying capsule, during the 133rd celebration of Groundhog Day on Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pa. Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019. Gene J. Puskar/AP

Ultimately, Punxsutawney Phil's "predictions" should really be taken with a grain of salt.

In the 10 annual predictions from 2013 to 2022, Punxsutawney Phil was less accurate with his weather predications than flipping a coin would have been. He was right four times in that period -- 2020, 2016, 2014 and 2013 -- and was incorrect in the six other instances.

ofimmsl on February 2nd, 2025 at 13:03 UTC »

Put some tariffs on Phil until he acts right

nopal_blanco on February 2nd, 2025 at 13:00 UTC »

He’s been right 30% of the time in the last 10 years.

Better chance spring comes early.

NOAA is predicting a warmer and a more precipitous than average next 3 months for much of the country. They’re betting against our buddy Phil this year.

leidend22 on February 2nd, 2025 at 13:00 UTC »

Does that mean six more weeks of summer in Australia? It's fackin hot mate