Punxsutawney Phil makes Groundhog Day weather prediction in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania’s “official state meteorologist,” Punxsutawney Phil, noticed his shadow Monday morning and predicted six extra weeks of winter.

1000’s of individuals gathered for the one hundred and fortieth celebration of Groundhog Day at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to see the well-known groundhog emerge from its tree stump.

In the meantime, AccuWeather’s prime climate skilled, meteorologist Paul Pastelok, stated the approaching week will stay chilly, with below-average temperatures within the japanese United States.

“We’re nonetheless coping with some extra snow and ice” within the mid-Atlantic, Ohio River Valley and northeastern U.S., he stated.

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Groundhog Membership handler AJ Dereume holds Punxsutawney Phil, the weather-predicting groundhog, in the course of the 137th Groundhog Day celebration at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, February 2, 2023. (AP Picture/Barry Reeger, File)

“The additional you go, the accuracy is not all the time precisely the identical, however we are able to see developments,” Pastelok stated of any long-term predictions.

Whereas Phil made his annual prediction, the Nationwide Facilities for Environmental Data stays skeptical of the animal’s predictive skill. The federal government company final yr compared Phil’s record with US nationwide temperatures over the previous decade and concluded he was proper solely 40% of the time.

Groundhog Membership handler AJ Dereume holds Punxsutawney Phil, the weather-predicting groundhog, in the course of the 139th Groundhog Day celebration at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, February 2, 2025. (AP Picture/Barry Reeger, File)

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Among the many political figures drawn to the Gobbler’s Knob stage Monday was U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick, who famous that his mom was from Punxsutawney. Additionally noticed have been state Treasurer Stacy Garrity, who’s presently looking for the governorship, and prime Senate Republicans Joe Pittman and Kim Ward.

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Whereas Groundhog Day is taken into account a nationwide vacation and was even popularized within the 1993 basic Invoice Murray movie of the identical title, the day – and Phil himself – maintain a particular place within the hearts of many Pennsylvanians.

The Related Press contributed to this report.