How accurate is Punxsutawney Phil on Groundhog Day?

PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (WHTM) – Punxsutawney is a borough with around 5,636 people in Jefferson County and is home to one tradition that involves a groundhog and the weather.

Punxsutawney Phil wakes up every Feb. 2 to a crowd of around 40,000 and television cameras while they watch to see if Phil sees his shadow or not see his shadow.

If Phil sees his shadow, then that means that winter will go on for six weeks, but if Phil doesn’t see his shadow that means an early spring is coming.

This tradition has given Punxsutawney the right to call itself the Weather Capital of the World.

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So how accurate is Punxsutawney Phil?

According to the Stormfax Weather Almanac, Phil has been correct only 39% of the time dating back to Fe. 2, 1887.

For the last three years, Phil has seen his shadow which now makes the total:

Groundhog Day is derived from pre-Christian traditions, according to History, the Celts celebrated Imbolc which is a pagan festival marking the beginning of spring.

Imbolc was similar to the tradition called Candlemas which Christians believed that if the sun was out that meant 40 days of cold and snow.

Some sayings are:

Old English

If Candlemas be fair and bright,
Winter has another flight.
If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,
Winter will not come again.

Scotland

If Candlemas Day is bright and clear,
There’ll be two winters in the year.

Germany

For as the sun shines on Candlemas Day,
So far will the snow swirl until May.
For as the snow blows on Candlemas Day,
So far will the sunshine before May.

America

If the sun shines on Groundhog Day;
Half the fuel and half the hay.

Groundhogs Day takes place at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney on Feb. 2 at around 7:25 a.m.

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