punxsutawney phil groundhog day weather winter.

George Morar, of Youngstown, Ohio., celebrates while waiting for Punxsutawney Phil, the weather prognosticating groundhog, to come out and make his prediction during the 140th celebration of Groundhog Day on Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pa., Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)

The Latest: Groundhog Punxsutawney Phil will predict winter’s end or 6 more weeks of cold

Tens of thousands of people are gathering for Punxsutawney Phil’s annual prediction. The groundhog, living in a tree stump, is to forecast on Monday whether the long, cold winter in the U.S. will continue for six more weeks or if an early spring is near. Phil’s handlers interpret his winks and nods. If Phil sees his shadow, it means more winter; if not, spring is coming. This event at Gobbler’s Knob dates back over a century and has ties to ancient European farming traditions. The festivities have grown since the 1993 movie Groundhog Day.

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