Current:Home > InvestDid the groundhog see his shadow? See results of Punxsutawney Phil's 2024 winter forecast-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
Did the groundhog see his shadow? See results of Punxsutawney Phil's 2024 winter forecast
View Date:2024-12-24 02:26:42
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! (67)
Related
- Multi-State Offshore Wind Pact Weakened After Connecticut Sits Out First Selection
- Taraji P. Henson on the message of The Color Purple
- Senate confirms hundreds of military promotions after Tuberville drops hold
- Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore on hot dogs, 'May December' and movies they can't rewatch
- 'Joker 2' actor pans DC sequel as the 'worst film' ever: 'It has no plot'
- College presidents face tough questions from Congress over antisemitism on campus
- Which four Republicans will be on stage for the fourth presidential debate?
- Residents in northern Mexico protest over delays in cleaning up a mine spill
- Dwayne Johnson Admits to Peeing in Bottles on Set After Behavior Controversy
- Shohei Ohtani met Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts at Dodger Stadium
Ranking
- Arkansas governor unveils $102 million plan to update state employee pay plan
- Maryland transportation chief proposes $3.3B in budget cuts
- James Cameron on Ridley Scott's genius, plant-based diets and reissuing 6 of his top films
- Sebastian Stan Looks Unrecognizable as Donald Trump in Apprentice Movie
- My Chemical Romance returns with ‘The Black Parade’ tour
- Jets drop Tim Boyle, add Brett Rypien in latest QB shuffle
- NCAA President Charlie Baker proposing new subdivision that will pay athletes via trust fund
- Tennessee man gets 60-plus months in prison for COVID relief fraud
Recommendation
-
Olivia Munn Randomly Drug Tests John Mulaney After Mini-Intervention
-
Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore on hot dogs, 'May December' and movies they can't rewatch
-
Can anything stop the toxic smog of New Delhi?
-
Endangered red squirrel’s numbers show decrease this year in southeastern Arizona
-
'The Penguin' spoilers! Colin Farrell spills on that 'dark' finale episode
-
CVS is switching up how it pays for prescriptions. Will it save you money?
-
Poland’s former President Lech Walesa, 80, hospitalized with COVID-19
-
Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes' Exes, Andrew Shue and Marilee Fiebig, Are Dating