Groundhog Club handler A.J. Dereume holds Punxsutawney Phil during the 138th celebration of Groundhog Day on Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, Friday, Feb. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger) Punxsutawney Phil is the best-known groundhog who has been making predictions since 1886, according to Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. The Groundhog Day tradition as we know it dates to 1887. Groundhog Day originates from the Christian festival of Candlemas, a European tradition held on February 2 that uses a badger or hedgehog to predict the weather based on its shadow. If we're being honest, it even defies common sense. The legend is simple: The groundhog's shadow on Feb. 2 predicts the weather for the next six weeks, until the start of spring. Will the Groundhog See His Shadow in 2025? According to our weather predictions, February 2, 2025, will bring snow showers and cold weather. We think that when Punxsutawney Phil—that Seer of Seers, Sage of Sages, Weather Prognosticator Extraordinary— emerges from his burrow (with a little help from his handlers) to make his much-anticipated forecast, he will NOT see his shadow, which Livescience.com gives Phil's predictions a 36% accuracy rate, which makes the holiday more of a fun tradition rather than a factual forecast. Here is a rundown of the history of Punxsutawney Phil Groundhog Day is on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. The action starts in the early morning hours, when the groundhog is expected to come out of his burrow at sunrise to look for his shadow, approximately 7: According to groundhog.org, 1886 marked the first time the event appeared in Punxsutawney newspaper, but 1887 was the first time the official trek to Gobbler’s Knob took place. That means that Groundhog Day 2025 will be the 139th celebration! Punxsutawney Virtual Event Groundhog Club handler A.J. Dereume holds Punxsutawney Phil, the weather prognosticating groundhog, during the 137th celebration of Groundhog Day on Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania Groundhog Club handler A.J. Dereume holds Punxsutawney Phil, the weather prognosticating groundhog, during the 138th celebration of Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney, Pa., on Friday, Feb. 2, 2024 Here's when Groundhog Day began: The first mention of Groundhog Day came in 1886 in Punxsutawney. Over the years, several other locations have begun using their own groundhog, including General Beauregard Lee of Atlanta, Dunkirk Dave of Dunkirk, New York, and Jimmy of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. Here's the forecast for Sunday morning: Cloudy conditions and chilly temperatures in the upper-20s are expected in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania when Phil makes his prediction around 7:08 a.m. ET. Groundhog Day weather forecast for Georgia. The hundreds of visitors heading to Dauset Trails Nature Center will have some nice weather as they hope for a good outcome from Beau. What is Groundhog Day? People flock to Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, on Feb. 2 every year to be a part of the celebrations revolving around Punxsutawney Phil's winter forecast. “In Punxsutawney, 1886 marked the first time that Groundhog Day appeared in the local newspaper. The following year brought the first official trek to Gobbler’s Knob. PUNXSUTAWNEY, Penn. - Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania is the Mecca for those around the country celebrating Groundhog Day. Every year, on Feb. 2, tens of thousands of people flock to this small town of less than 6,000 people some 80 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, to see whether the town's rodent Groundhog handler John Griffiths holds Punxsutawney Phil after he saw his shadow predicting six more weeks of winter during 128th annual Groundhog Day festivities on Feb. 2, 2014, in Punxsutawney Groundhog Club handler A.J. Dereume holds Punxsutawney Phil, the weather prognosticating groundhog, during the 136th celebration of Groundhog Day on Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pa., Wednesday Here is everything to know about the prophetic rodent and the day dedicated to his winter forecast. When is Groundhog Day? It's always on Feb. 2, which in 2025 lands on a Sunday. Punxsutawney Phil The forecast for Groundhog Day 2025 is somewhat warm with highs in the mid 50s. We’ll have to wait and see what the groundhogs say about spring. Punxsutawney Phil (and Gertie from Wildlife
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