Latest news with #Groundhogese
CBS News
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Former Punxsutawney Groundhog Club president dies
Former Punxsutawney Groundhog Club president William "Bill" Deeley died. Deeley was the president of the Inner Circle, as well as Punxsutawney Phil's handler. "With heavy hearts," the club shared the news of his death on Facebook Thursday. "Bill embodied the magic and cheer that is Groundhog Day. He was at the forefront of the worldwide expansion that took the holiday from our little town to the entire world," the Groundhog Club said in a social media post. It's with heavy hearts that the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club shares the news of the passing of former President and... Posted by Punxsutawney Phil on Thursday, May 1, 2025 The top hat- and tuxedo-wearing members of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, which was founded in 1887, are responsible for making the trek every Feb. 2 to Gobbler's Knob, where Punxsutawney Phil predicts whether there will be six more weeks of winter or an early spring. According to lore, there is only one Punxsutawney Phil, the same way there is only one Easter Bunny and Santa Claus. Phil's Inner Groundhog Club attributes his longevity to the elixir of life, which he drinks every summer. The Inner Circle president has a cane which, according to legend, allows him to speak Groundhogese and hear Phil's yearly prediction. The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club shared photos on Facebook, remembering Deeley. "He made our community a better place, and his contagious smile will live on in our hearts forever. Our thoughts and prayers are with Bill's family. Thank you for everything and for simply always being you," the club wrote. Groundhog Day is a big deal in the town of Punxsutawney, drawing tens of thousands of visitors, including the governor. This year's crowd was one of the largest ever, the current Inner Circle president said. Phil saw his shadow, meaning six more weeks of winter.
USA Today
31-01-2025
- Climate
- USA Today
Just how accurate are Punxsutawney Phil's forecasts? We show his year-by-year record.
Just how accurate are Punxsutawney Phil's forecasts? We show his year-by-year record. It's nearly Groundhog Day again. On Sunday, all eyes will be on Punxsutawney Phil, the famous groundhog who predicts the weather in "Groundhogese," according to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. Phil has been making forecasts since 1886, but the modern-day Groundhog Day began a year later. But the custom doesn't always result in accurate weather forecasting. The renowned groundhog's accuracy rate is actually not very high, so the pressure is on. NOAA study grades Punxsutawney Phil, and his record is not so good According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Phil has a 35% overall accuracy rating over 135 years. Of the 128 recorded times Phil has predicted the weather, he has now seen his shadow 107 times (or 84% of the time). His longest streak of seeing his shadow is 31 after he saw it every year from 1903 to 1933. Top 10 weather-predicting animals in the US It seems Phil has some competition when it comes to forecasting the weather. According to an new study by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, these other furry forecasting critters in the U.S. have more accurate prediction rates. More: PETA suggests 'weather reveal' cake to replace famous groundhog Punxsutawney Phil NOAA predicts a warmer outlook for US Climatologically speaking, the three coldest months of the year in the U.S. are December, January and February, so winter typically has a ways to go when the groundhog comes out. NOAA released it temperature outlook for February, March and April and predicts warmer temperatures in the Northeast. The majority of the South and East could also see above-normal temperatures, according to NOAA. But the Northwest might encounter below-normal temperatures. More: Groundhog Day is almost here: What to know about the rodent, the shadow, and the weather Where is Groundhog Day celebrated? People flock to Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, on Feb. 2 every year to be a part of the celebrations revolving around Punxsutawney Phil's forecast. The holiday stems from a centuries-old pagan and Christian tradition, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. It is also known as St. Brigid's Day. German settlers brought the tradition to America, according to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. But before they made the trek to America, they checked to see if a hedgehog saw its shadow, not a groundhog. CONTRIBUTING Julia Gomez, Doyle Rice and Jim Sergent SOURCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Punxsutawney Groundhog Club and USA TODAY research
