Legendary Groundhog Predicts Six More Weeks Of Winter

Every year on February 2, thousands of people gather in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, for one of the most unique US traditions — Groundhog Day. At the heart of the event is Punxsutawney Phil, the famous weather-predicting groundhog. According to custom, if Phil sees his shadow, winter will last six more weeks. If he does not, spring will arrive early.

This year's festivities began at 3:00 a.m. with live music, dance performances, and a fireworks show. At sunrise, a tuxedo-clad member of the Groundhog Club pulled the sleepy woodchuck from his burrow. To the dismay of those hoping for an early spring, Phil saw his shadow. However, his cross-state rival, New York's Staten Island Chuck, failed to see his shadow, predicting an early spring.

Which groundhog should you trust? Phil’s fans insist he has never been wrong since his first prediction in 1887. But NOAA's National Climatic Data Center disagrees. Their records show that Phil has only been right three times in the past ten years. Meanwhile, Chuck, who has been making weather predictions since 1981, boasts an accuracy rate of 85 percent. By March 20, the first day of spring, we will know who got it right this year.

Groundhog Day was started by German settlers who came to Pennsylvania in the 18th and 19th centuries. Today, many animals across the country predict the weather, but Phil remains the most famous. The 138-year-old, who supposedly owes his long life to a magic potion, is also an international celebrity thanks to his starring role in the 1993 movie Groundhog Day.

Groundhogs, also called land beavers or whistle pigs, are the largest members of the squirrel family. They usually reach 17 to 26 inches (43 to 66 cm) in length and can weigh up to 4 pounds (1.8 kg). Aside from Phil and Chuck, these largely herbivorous animals typically live 6 to 8 years in the wild.

Happy Groundhog Day!

Resources: Wikipedia.org, groundhog.org.