Groundhog Day 2026: Punxsutawney Phil made his annual weather forecast and predicted six more weeks of winter after seeing his shadow at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, on Monday.
A 140-year-old tradition says that if a groundhog leaves its burrow and sees its shadow, it will crawl back inside and winter will continue for another six weeks. If he does not see his shadow, it is said that pre-spring is on its way.
Tens of thousands of people gather at Gobbler’s Knob every year for this tradition, which is rooted in old European farming customs. The celebration in Punxsutawney became much more popular after the 1993 movie “Groundhog Day” starring Bill Murray.
When is Groundhog Day 2026?
Groundhog Day will be celebrated on Monday, February 2, 2026. Although not a federal holiday, Americans tune in every year to see if the famous groundhog predicts a longer winter or an early spring.
The main celebration takes place at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, about 80 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. The event in the early hours of the morning is free and open to the public, with spectators allowed to enter the grounds from 3:30 a.m.
Where to watch?
You can tune into the Groundhog Day event live on the Visit Pennsylvania website at visitpa.com/live-stream-phils-forecast. The start of the broadcast is scheduled for 6 o’clock in the morning
Is Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction accurate?
Despite the excitement surrounding this tradition, Phil’s forecasting record is less impressive. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says groundhogs have “no predictive power.” According to the 2025 report, Phil was only right about 30% of the time over the last decade.
Experts note that people may have better luck after NOAA’s seasonal temperature outlook suggests that parts of the southern United States — including parts of Florida, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona — could experience above-normal temperatures in March, April and May 2026.
Last year Phil predicted six more weeks of winter – his most frequent prediction and one that didn’t come as a surprise in early February. Top hat-clad members of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club say they understand Phil’s “groundhogness,” which includes winking, purring, chattering and nodding, and translating his weather reports ahead.
Phil isn’t the only animal used to predict the weather on Groundhog Day. Similar events, official and informal, are held in many parts of the US, Canada and other countries.
