HomeWorldGroundhog Day 2023: Punxsutawney Phil makes prediction

Groundhog Day 2023: Punxsutawney Phil makes prediction

February 2, 2023

Furry soothsayer Punxsutawney Phil delivered some bad news early Thursday: six more weeks of winter.

The cold prediction came after the famous prognosticating rodent saw his shadow during the annual Groundhog Day ceremony at Gobbler’s Knob in western Pennsylvania.

Phil’s “inner circle” — a group of top-hatted dignitaries responsible for planning the annual event and caring for Phil himself — summoned him from his tree stump to make the prediction shortly after 7:20 a.m. ET, with newly elected Gov. Josh Shapiro in attendance.

A group of people stand next to a bonfire while waiting to see Phil on Feb. 2, 2023 in Punxsutawney, Pa.
A group of people stand next to a bonfire while waiting to see Phil on Feb. 2, 2023, in Punxsutawney, Pa.
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People cheer during a concert Punxsutawney Phil on Feb. 2, 2023 in Punxsutawney, Penn.
People cheer during the the 137th celebration of Groundhog Day as they wait for Punxsutawney Phil on Feb. 2, 2023, in Punxsutawney, Pa.
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Attenders watch the festivities while waiting for Punxsutawney Phil to come out and make his prediction during the the 137th celebration of Groundhog Day on Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pa., on Feb. 2, 2023.
Attendees watch the festivities while waiting for Punxsutawney Phil to come out and make his prediction during the 137th celebration of Groundhog Day on Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pa., on Feb. 2, 2023.
AP

People lay on a blow-up mattress inside the Punxsutawney Area Community Center the night before groundhog Day on Feb. 1, 2023 in Punxsutawney, Pa.
People lie on a blow-up mattress inside the Punxsutawney Area Community Center the night before Groundhog Day on Feb. 1, 2023, in Punxsutawney, Pa.
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The traditional event about 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh grew out of the February 2 holiday of Candlemas in Europe, where Christians would take candles to church to have them blessed.

A popular English folk song declared winter will have “another flight” if conditions on Candlemas were fair and bright.


Punxsutawney Phil predicted 6 more weeks of winter.
Punxsutawney Phil predicted six more weeks of winter.
AP

Punxsutawney Phil's "inner circle" will summon him from his tree stump at dawn on Feb. 2.
Punxsutawney Phil’s “inner circle” summoned him from his tree stump at dawn on Feb. 2.
AP

That interpretation became accepted throughout most of Europe until it reached Germany, where a hedgehog became part of the tradition and a “second winter” would be expected if it saw its shadow on Candlemas.

According to records dating back to 1887, Phil has predicted winter 106 times and an early spring 29 times.

But the toothy rodent’s track record isn’t perfect.

Phil the groundhog makes his prediction on how long winter will last, at Gobblers Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.
Vice president Dan McGinley shows a scroll to the crowd as groundhog handler AJ Derume holds Punxsutawney Phil.
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Phil the groundhog makes his prediction on how long winter will last, at Gobblers Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.
This is the 137th celebration of Groundhog Day on Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney.
AP


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Phil the groundhog makes his prediction on how long winter will last, at Gobblers Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.
According to historians, hedgehogs became a part of this tradition in Germany, and a “second winter” would be expected if it saw its shadow on Candlemas.
AP

Phil the groundhog makes his prediction on how long winter will last, at Gobblers Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.
Phil has predicted winter more than 100 times, according to records dating back to 1887.
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“On average, Phil has gotten it right 40% of the time over the past 10 years,” the National Centers for Environmental Information said in 2022.

Here are his past 10 predictions, as compiled by USA Today:

Still, there’s no shadow of a doubt Phil’s full title is impressive — Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Sage of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators, and Weather Prophet Extraordinary.

And though he may be the most famous forecasting critter, he also counts New York City’s Staten Island Chuck in his company. Chuck predicted an early spring during an event Thursday at the Staten Island Zoo.

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