Groundhog Day 2024 prediction: See if Punxsutawney Phil says more winter or early spring

Anthony DiMattia, Delaware News Journal
Updated ·4 min read

Nothing will keep the weather prognosticating groundhog down.

Punxsutawney Phil was back at it again celebrating Groundhog Day on Friday, surrounded by onlookers in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. This year, the household name forecast an early spring — having not seen his shadow during the annual spectacle at Gobbler's Knob.

Thousands watched on as Phil popped out of his burrow at 7:28 a.m. to brisk 36-degree weather.

Groundhog Club handler A.J. Dereume holds Punxsutawney Phil, the weather prognosticating groundhog, during the 138th celebration of Groundhog Day on Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pa., Friday, Feb. 2, 2024. Phil's handlers said that the groundhog has forecast an early spring.
Groundhog Club handler A.J. Dereume holds Punxsutawney Phil, the weather prognosticating groundhog, during the 138th celebration of Groundhog Day on Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pa., Friday, Feb. 2, 2024. Phil's handlers said that the groundhog has forecast an early spring.

When is Groundhog Day 2024?

Groundhog Day is observed annually on Feb. 2.

This year, Groundhog Day was Friday, Feb. 2, with festivities held in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

Livestream: Groundhog Day results from Punxsutawney

Groundhog Day 2024 was celebrated at 7:15 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 2. At sunrise, which is around 7:28 a.m., Punxsutawney Phil left his burrow and looked for his shadow for the 138th time, according to groundhog.org/.

There are festivities and events planned starting Feb. 1 and lasting through Feb. 3. On Groundhog Day, the celebration started at 3 a.m. at Gobbler's Knob, and between 3:30 a.m. and 7 a.m., attendees enjoyed live entertainment and fireworks.

USA TODAY is providing live coverage of Groundhog Day events from Punxsutawney, starting after 6 a.m. ET. You can watch the livestream video at the top of this page or on USA TODAY's YouTube channel.

You also can watch the Visit PA livestream here. Or view the festivities on the Visit PA YouTube channel and Facebook page.

Where is Punxsutawney Phil?

Per tradition, a huge crowd will be led by about a dozen members of Phil's "Inner Circle," a group of men in top hats who organize the event each year at Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

Each year, the event is held in the borough in Jefferson County — some 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.

Over the 137-year tradition, Phil has seen his shadow 107 times.

Groundhog Day shadow meaning: What if the groundhog sees his shadow?

The annual event has its origin in a German legend about a furry rodent. It roots back to Candlemas Day in Europe with the Christian "festival of lights" that falls on Feb. 2, midway between the start and end of winter.

Tradition says Phil seeing his shadow is a sign that the next six weeks will bring wintry weather.

If Phil doesn't see his shadow, it means an early spring.

Groundhog Day isn't scientific (in fact, Punxsutawney Phil's weather predictions are wrong most of the time).

If we're being honest, it even defies common sense.

The legend is simple: The groundhog's shadow on Feb. 2 predicts the weather for the next six weeks, until the start of spring.

A sunny day means the groundhog will see his shadow — this is taken as a sign that the next six weeks will bring wintry weather. A cloudy day means the opposite.

What keeps Punxsutawney Phil going?

In Punxsutawney, 1886 marked the first time that Groundhog Day appeared in the local newspaper. The following year brought the first official trek to Gobbler's Knob. Each year since then has seen a steady increase in participation of the celebration from people all over the world, according to groundhog.org.

It's been the same Punxsutawney Phil for all 137 years of the tradition, according to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. That's over 15 times longer than the upper end of a groundhog's typical lifespan. That's an old groundhog.

Those at the club say a special diet keeps Pennsylvania's most famous groundhog coming back each year, according to the Inner Circle.

The 15-member group tasked with protecting and perpetuating the legend of the great weather-predicting groundhog, claim they keep him immortal by feeding him the "groundhog punch" every year.

In the late summer, the club makes a Trek to Phil's Stump at Gobbler's Knob to feed him his “Elixir of Life,” members say. The elixir is made from a secret recipe and provides Phil with the potion that has sustained his longevity and youthful good looks, they said.

History of Groundhog Day: Phil's predictions of years past

Phil's first official shadow sighting came in 1887, followed by several years of no official recordings.

The first front page coverage came in 1908, when Phil saw his shadow. In 1913, John Frampton was the first to grab a photo for the newspaper of Phil spotting his shadow.

His longest stretch of seeing his shadow is 21 years, which came between 1913 and 1933. His longest streak of not seeing his shadow — two years between 2019 and 2020.

The only time he did not make an appearance came in 1943 during the middle of World War II.

He has seen his shadow the most, as he has predicted a longer winter 107 (77%) times before the 2024 prediction. Here's are all of his results since 1887:

  • Saw shadow (six more weeks of winter): 107

  • No shadow (early spring): 29

  • Partial shadow: 1

  • No record: 10

  • Did not appear: 1

When is Groundhog Day?: As Groundhog Day 2024 approaches, don't forget about this famous Delaware groundhog: Chunk

Chunk the Groundhog: Delaware farmer decides to coexist with garden-eating groundhog and makes it a star

Did the groundhog see his shadow?: Results of Punxsutawney Phil predictions in 2024, beyond

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Groundhog Day 2024: Did Phil see his shadow? See weather prediction