Drumroll please! The groundhog known as Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow this morning. That means we could see six more weeks of winter, at least according to Groundhog Day lore.
The was the fifth time in the last six years that Phil has seen his shadow, and the 20th time since 2000.
Phil’s prediction comes on the heels of back-to-back winter storms, so it’s no surprise that some in the crowd booed, unhappy with the furry seer’s prognostication.
Winter Storm Gianna dropped more than a foot of snow in the South over the weekend, and bitterly cold temperatures have spurred freeze and extreme cold warnings across much of the East today.
(MORE: More Than 100,000 Without Power In Dangerous Cold)
That followed Winter Storm Fern’s ice, freezing rain and snow, which knocked out power to more than 1 million homes and businesses across a wide stretch of the nation.
But the cold did not deter Phil’s fans, who bundled up for the predawn party in Gobbler’s Knob with temperatures around 5 degrees at the time of the announcement this morning.
((AP Photo/Barry Reeger))
(MORE: How Much Winter Weather Usually Follows Groundhog Day?)
Our February outlook forecasts below-average temperatures for much of the North, but the Southwest could enjoy some early springlike temperatures. You can delve into more details here.
Is Punxsutawney Phil Accurate?
Last February, the groundhog also saw his shadow, which was supposed to mean six more weeks of winter, so how did that pan out?
“There is no scientific basis for forecasting how early spring weather will arrive based simply on one morning’s cloud cover. Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction last year probably missed the mark,” says weather.com senior meteorologist Jonathan Erdman.
“February was near or warmer than average in Pennsylvania and much of the East, and March was the nation’s sixth warmest in 131 years, according to NOAA statistics.”
“Then again, for those tired of winter weather, they probably didn’t complain about the groundhog’s missed forecast.”
(MORE: Does Groundhog Day’s Weather Really Matter? Here’s Your Answer)
How Did Groundhog Day Start?
Groundhog Day organizers acknowledge that the “holiday” exists mostly just to break up the monotony of long, dark winters.
The idea came to the U.S. with German immigrants and originally involved a hedgehog, according to the official history of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club.
The town held its first Groundhog Day celebration in 1887.
A series of toothy rodents named Punxsutawney Phil have risen from the burrow every Feb. 2 since.
This year, we got special access to the Groundhog Club’s “Inner Circle,” the small group that considers itself the guardian of this nearly 140-year-old tradition.
It’s a lifetime appointment and not just anyone is chosen; you can read more and see who makes the cut, and learn why they believe this tradition endures.
