Punxsutawney Phil Sees Shadow, Predicts Six more weeks of Winter

By: Corbin Lingenfelter, News Director

Punxsutawney, PA- The annual “Groundhog Day” tradition has come and gone in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

2023 marks the 127th year of the U.S. tradition. Punxsutawney Phil, or just Phil, emerged from his tree stump burrow and saw his shadow in the early morning of February 2nd, thus indicating six more weeks of winter according to folklore. 

Phil has now seen his shadow 107 times since the first recorded Groundhogs Day celebration in 1886, according to USA Today. However, there are some missing records for the early years of the celebration and during World War II in 1943 when the celebration was not held. 

Though a tradition, Phil seeing his shadow is not the most accurate indication of how long winter will last in the US. According to statistics by USA Today, Phil has accurately predicted winter’s timeline only 40% of the time.

Accuweather predicts February as a cooler temperature month, with the coldest days being February 1st, 3rd, and 19th. The rest of the month sits in the mid-40s and low-50s with precipitation spread throughout.