The Pennsylvania Groundhog, Phil, predicted six more weeks of winter on Feb. 2, 2026. Every year, thousands of people gather in Punxsutawney for Phil the groundhog’s extended weather forecast. Groundhog Day is a national holiday first established in the 1800s in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. This tradition was brought to America by German immigrants who reshaped their Candlemas Day history (using a badger) into local groundhog lore, with the first official celebration held in 1887.

According to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club website, Groundhog Day is celebrated annually on Feb. 2 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, where it was established. The history behind this centuries-long tradition largely concerns the Groundhog’s natural hibernation cycle. In late fall, they retreat into deep underground burrows and enter hibernation that can last from Oct. to March. On Feb. 2, groundhog Phil, most famously known for his role on Groundhog Day, is woken deep in a cave. If Phil sees his shadow on the cave walls while making his exit, he won’t come out of the cave because of the fear of predators. This is believed to foreshadow six more weeks of winter. However, if Phil doesn’t see his shadow and emerges from the cave, it is believed that an early spring is to be expected.