Groundhog Day 2022: Punxsutawney Phil Prediction Here

Update:

Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow and is predicting six more weeks of winter. You can read more about the big day here.

Earlier:

Groundhog Day – the once-a-year celebration where a furry creature predicts the weather – is Feb. 2. And there’s plenty you need to know about the country’s most-famous four-legged weatherman, Punxsutawney Phil, including how you can watch him decide whether we’ll have an early spring or six more weeks of winter.

First, the basics

Groundhog Day is celebrated Feb. 2 each year. In 2022, it falls on a Wednesday. On that day, Phil comes out of his burrow on Gobbler’s Knob in Pennsylvania to predict the weather for the rest of the winter. According to legend, if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter weather. If he does not see his shadow, there will be an early spring.

And what’s the Groundhog Club?

The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club was established in 1887 by a group of groundhog hunters. The editor of the Punxsutawney newspaper was also a member of the group and claimed that Punxsutawney Phil was the only true weather-predicting groundhog. The Inner Circle is a group within the club. They are responsible for carrying out the annual traditions and celebrations and take care of Phill all year long.

How to watch Phil’s prediction

You can see a live stream from the Visit PA website as well as a stream via YouTube starting at 7:15 a.m. ET (6:15 a.m. CT) on Feb. 2.

What will happen then?

On Feb. 2, Phil will come out of his burrow and then give his prediction in a special language known as Groundhogese. Only the president of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club can understand Groundhogese so he provides the translation to the crowd.

More on Phil…

According to Groundhog Club members, there has only been one Phil and he has been predicting since 1887, making him 135 years old. His longevity is credited to drinking “the elixir of life,” a secret recipe known to club members. Phil takes one sip every summer at the Groundhog Picnic and it magically gives him seven more years of life.

How accurate is Phil?

The Groundhog Club says he’s always right but the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration puts that estimate more at 50% for the span of time from 2011 to 2020.

Groundhog History

Punxsutawney held its first Groundhog Day in the 1800s. The first official trek to Gobbler’s Knob was made on February 2, 1887. Punxsutawney Phil was named after King Phillip. Prior to being called Phil, he was called Br’er Groundhog.