Current:Home > MarketsDid the groundhog see his shadow? See results of Punxsutawney Phil's 2024 winter forecast -DollarDynamic
Did the groundhog see his shadow? See results of Punxsutawney Phil's 2024 winter forecast
View
Date:2025-04-24 08:32:28
It's official: spring is right around the corner.
Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow in front of thousands of spectators Friday morning at Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, part of the annual Groundhog Day tradition celebrated in the U.S. and Canada. That means, according to the legend, we're in for an early spring.
This marks the first time since 2020 that Phil predicted an early spring, and the 21st time since records were kept.
If you look at the data, Punxsutawney Phil has a record of seeing his shadow more often than not. Prior to 2024, the groundhog had seen his shadow 107 times and not seen his shadow 20 times, according to the York Daily Record, part of the USA TODAY Network. There were a few years in the late 1800s where there was no record of his forecast, and 1943 was the only year he did not make an appearance.
While Punxsutawney Phil may be arguably the most famous groundhog around, he is not the only critter making a weather forecast today. There's also Buckeye Chuck in Ohio, General Beauregard Lee in Georgia and Staten Island Chuck in New York, who all emerged from burrows Friday morning to predict either the continuing winter or coming spring.
Here's what to know about Punxsutawney Phil.
How accurate is Punxsutawney Phil?His Groundhog Day predictions aren't great, data shows.
What has Phil predicted in the past?See his full forecast record dating back to the 1800s
Why do we celebrate Groundhog Day?
Groundhog Day is celebrated every February 2, the same day as Candlemas, where some of the holiday's traditions originate.
Candlemas was traditionally aligned with the anticipation of planting crops, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac, and seeing sunshine on the day was said to indicate winter's return.
In Europe, people traditionally looked to bears or badgers to look for the sign of returning winter or coming spring, but when German immigrants arrived in Pennsylvania, they instead used groundhogs to make the forecast instead.
Since 1993's "Groundhog Day" movie starring Bill Murray, visitPA says more than 30,000 people travel to Punxsutawney each year to see Punxsutawney Phil's prediction.
What did Punxsutawney Phil say in 2023?
Last year, Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his burrow, saw his shadow and predicted six more weeks of winter, a forecast in line with his predictions from the last two years.
Watch the 2024 Groundhog Day replay from Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania
veryGood! (8)
Related
- Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
- 2 adults, 2 children and dog found dead in Seattle house after fire and reported shooting; 11-year-old girl escapes
- Steve Harwell, former Smash Mouth frontman, dies at 56, representative says
- Zelenskyy picks politician as Ukraine's new defense minister 18 months into Russia's invasion
- DoorDash steps up driver ID checks after traffic safety complaints
- A 2-year-old's body was found in trash, police say. His father's been charged with killing him.
- What makes a good TV guest star?
- Mark Meadows, 5 more defendants plead not guilty in Georgia election case
- Rams vs. 49ers highlights: LA wins rainy defensive struggle in key divisional game
- Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner’s Second Daughter’s Initials Revealed
Ranking
- Finally, good retirement news! Southwest pilots' plan is a bright spot, experts say
- Ukraine's counteroffensive brings heavy casualties as families contend with grief, loss
- Why dominant win over LSU shows Florida State football is back
- Complaints over campaign comments by Wisconsin Supreme Court justice are dismissed
- Brianna LaPaglia Reveals The Meaning Behind Her "Chickenfry" Nickname
- What is green hydrogen and why is it touted as a clean fuel?
- Steve Williams becomes 1st Democrat to enter West Virginia governor’s race
- The Rolling Stones are making a comeback with first album in 18 years: 'Hackney Diamonds'
Recommendation
South Korea's acting president moves to reassure allies, calm markets after Yoon impeachment
Icebreaker, 2 helicopters used in perilous Antarctic rescue mission as researcher falls ill
Tom Brady shares when he will join Fox Sports as NFL analyst after taking 2023 season off
Beyoncé's Los Angeles Renaissance Tour stops bring out Gabrielle Union, Kelly Rowland, more celebs
The city of Chicago is ordered to pay nearly $80M for a police chase that killed a 10
Prosecutors in all 50 states urge Congress to strengthen tools to fight AI child sexual abuse images
Civil rights lawsuit in North Dakota accuses a white supremacist group of racial intimidation
Jury selection begins in contempt case against ex-Trump White House official Peter Navarro