Punxsutawney Phil to Reveal Groundhog Day Forecast

Thousands Expected to Brave the Cold for Annual Tradition in Pennsylvania

Feb. 1, 2026 at 4:39pm

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On Groundhog Day, the famous Punxsutawney Phil will emerge from his burrow in rural Pennsylvania to determine whether there will be six more weeks of winter or an early spring. The annual event, which dates back to the 19th century, has become a quirky tradition that gained widespread popularity after the release of the 1993 film "Groundhog Day" starring Bill Murray.

Why it matters

Punxsutawney Phil's weather prediction has become a beloved annual tradition, though the accuracy of his forecasts has been called into question over the years. The event draws thousands of visitors to the small town and has become a symbol of the changing seasons and the arrival of spring.

The details

Shortly before 7:30 a.m. ET on Monday, February 2nd, 2026, Phil will be brought out by his handlers, known as the Inner Circle, to make his prediction. If Phil sees his shadow, it is said to mean six more weeks of winter, while a lack of shadow is interpreted as a sign of an early spring. Last year, Phil predicted a prolonged winter after seeing his shadow, but March 2025 saw no major snowstorms.

  • Punxsutawney Phil will emerge from his burrow around 7:30 a.m. ET on Monday, February 2nd, 2026.
  • The Groundhog Day event has been a tradition in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania since the mid-1800s.

The players

Punxsutawney Phil

The famous groundhog who emerges from his burrow each Groundhog Day to predict the arrival of spring.

Inner Circle

The group of Punxsutawney residents who are responsible for caring for Phil and announcing his weather forecast.

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What they’re saying

“If you go by statistics and history, about 80 percent of the time it's, 'My shadow I see, so six more weeks of winter it will be.' But you never know. In the last 10 years, we've had more 'no shadows' than we have had in any 10-year period of the Groundhog Club.”

— Thomas Dunkel, President of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

While Punxsutawney Phil's weather predictions have become a beloved tradition, their accuracy has been called into question over the years. Nonetheless, the annual Groundhog Day event continues to draw thousands of visitors to the small town, serving as a symbol of the changing seasons and the arrival of spring.