Groundhog Day: Punxsutawney Phil makes 140th weather prediction

Pennsylvania's "official authorities meteorologist," Punxsutawney Phil, saw his shadiness Monday morning, predicting six much weeks of winter.

Thousands of radical gathered for the 140th solemnisation of Groundhog Day connected Gobbler's Knob successful Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to spot the celebrated groundhog look from his histrion stump.

Meanwhile, AccuWeather’s main long-range upwind expert, meteorologist Paul Pastelok, said the coming week volition stay cold, with beneath mean temperatures successful the eastbound United States.

"We’ve inactive got immoderate much snowfall and crystal to contend with" successful the mid-Atlantic, Ohio River Valley and Northeastern U.S., helium said.

FOX WEATHER TO PROVIDE EXTENDED LIVE COVERAGE OF WINTER STORM IMPACTING THE NATION

Groundhog Club handler A.J. Dereume holds Punxsutawney Phil, the upwind prognosticating groundhog, during the 137th solemnisation of Groundhog Day connected Gobbler's Knob successful Punxsutawney, Pa., Feb. 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger, File)

"The farther retired you get the accuracy is not specifically connected constituent each the time, but we tin get trends," Pastelok said astir immoderate long-range forecasts.

While Phil made his yearly prognostication, the National Centers for Environmental Information remains a skeptic of the animal's prediction ability. The authorities bureau past year compared Phil’s record with U.S. nationalist temperatures implicit the anterior decennary and concluded helium was close lone 40% of the time.

Groundhog Club handler A.J. Dereume holds Punxsutawney Phil, the upwind prognosticating groundhog, during the 139th solemnisation of Groundhog Day connected Gobbler's Knob successful Punxsutawney, Pa., Feb. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger, File)

STATE'S RARE FREEZE GIVES RESIDENTS AND VISITORS GREEN LIGHT TO COLLECT STUNNED INVASIVE IGUANAS

Among the governmental figures drawn to the Gobbler’s Knob signifier connected Monday was U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick, who noted his parent was from Punxsutawney. Also spotted were authorities Treasurer Stacy Garrity, who is presently pursuing the governorship, and apical authorities Senate Republicans Joe Pittman and Kim Ward.

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While Groundhog Day is considered a nationalist vacation and has adjacent been popularized successful the classical 1993 Bill Murray movie of the aforesaid name, the time — and Phil himself — clasp a peculiar spot successful galore Pennsylvanians' hearts.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.