NEWS

Groundhog Day 2023: See as Punxsutawney Phil makes his weather prediction

Anthony DiMattia
Erie Times-News

An early spring or six more weeks of winter? We have our answer!

On Thursday, the all-knowing Punxsutawney Phil popped out of his burrow in the ground and let us in on the secret meteorologists have been keeping from us.

Punxsutawney Phil left his burrow to look for his shadow for the 137th time.

By 7:25 a.m., his answer was clear. He saw his shadow, meaning six more weeks of winter.

Groundhog Club handler A.J. Dereume holds Punxsutawney Phil, the weather prognosticating groundhog, as Vice President Tom Dunkel reads the scroll , during the 136th celebration of Groundhog Day on Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pa., Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022.

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What time does Punxsutawney Phil see his shadow?

Groundhog Day 2023 will be celebrated at Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, at approximately 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 2. Around 7:25 a.m., that's when Punxsutawney Phil is anticipated to leave his burrow and look for his shadow for the 137th time, according to groundhog.org/

There are festivities starting this weekend in Punxsutawney, with events planned starting Saturday and lasting through Thursday.

On Groundhog Day, the prognostication celebration starts at 3 a.m. at Gobbler's Knob with a stage show.

Groundhog Day prediction

The great weather-predicting groundhog could not be stopped in 2022, forecasting six more weeks of winter after seeing his shadow during the annual spectacle at Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney last February.

Back to normal for the first time since 2020, thousands watched on as Phil popped out of his burrow at 7:25 a.m. to unseasonably warm 40-degree weather.  

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The shadow tradition explained

So, if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow on Groundhog Day ...?

Tradition says Phil seeing his shadow is a sign that the next six weeks will bring wintry weather.

If Phil doesn't see his shadow, it means an early spring.

If the early weather forecast is any indication, he will predict six more weeks of winter. (Which he usually does.)  

Where to watch Groundhog Day activities from Gobbler's Knob

To watch live, see below.

There will be a live broadcast available on VisitPa's website.

It can also be viewed on The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club's Facebook page and Punxsutawney Phil's YouTube channel.