So, how well do you believe Punxsutawney Phil’s ability to judge whether there will be an early spring?
Thousands of tourists around the country will descend on Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania on Friday for the annual Groundhog Day celebration.
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Of course, the signature moment of the party is whether Phil will see his shadow or not.
If the groundhog sees its shadow, it means six weeks of winter. If it doesn’t, it means we’ll have an early spring.
The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club actually has historical data on ceremonies that have taken place since 1887, on its website.
Last year, Punxsutawney Phil saw its shadow, although for many states in the Midwest, it seemed like winter lasted longer than an additional six weeks with some chilly days in March, April and early May.
The key data on how often the groundhog has seen its shadow and how accurate its forecasts turn out to be are shown in the graphic below.