Today, Feb. 2, is Groundhog Day in the USA. What happened? Did Punxsutawney Phil see his shadow? Will Spring be here early or should we expect a long Winter?
Did the groundhog see his shadow? This is Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction for 2026
As is the tradition every Feb. 2, today, the United States celebrates Groundhog Day.
For centuries, communities across North America have continued a tradition brought over from Europe to predict when the wintery weather will end. Typically around this date, Groundhogs come out of their burrows for a look around and how they react, according to the folkloric tradition, will predict how much longer winter will linger around.
Wishing a joyous and magical Groundhog Day to all who celebrate. pic.twitter.com/LcX25bWMRM
— Tom Stiglich (@TStig822) February 1, 2026
Did Phil the groundhog see his shadow?
On the morning of Feb. 2, hundreds of people have gathered on Gobbler’s Knob Hill, in Pennsylvania, where members of The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club are in charge of getting Phil, the star of the day, out of his burrow to find out the weather forecast for 2026.
For this year, 2026, the groundhog Phil saw his shadow when he came out of the burrow after waking up from hibernation; which means that there will be six more weeks of winter in the United States.
It’s GROUNDHOG DAY! Six more weeks of winter! #PunxsutawneyPhil saw his shadow.
— Brad Branham (@bradbranham) February 2, 2026
How does Groundhog Day work?
As mentioned, once the marmot, a large rodent of the squirrel family, awakens from hibernation, it will emerge from its burrow and if it see its shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. If the groundhog doesn’t see its shadow, then winter will be over soon. If the groundhog sees its shadow, it will return back to the burrow, otherwise it will abandon it.
The most famous groundhog in the United States is Phil from Punxsutawney. However, there are other marmots throughout the country that also predict the arrival of spring; like General Beauregard Lee from Georgia or Buckeye Chuck from Ohio.
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