Stop us if you’ve heard this one before.
Groundhog Day — and its accompanying lighthearted prediction of either sunshine or six more weeks of the winter blues determined by whether the world’s notable groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, sees his shadow — is once again upon us Sunday.
Here’s what to expect.
What to know if you visit Punxsutawney
Western Pennsylvania is the place where the magic happens, where the Groundhog Day tradition started way back in 1886. The little town of Punxsutawney is located about an hour and a half northeast of Pittsburgh in Jefferson County.
The grounds at Gobbler’s Knob — located on the town’s southern reaches, where the main event is held free of charge — open at 3 a.m., with Phil giving his prognostication at sunrise, expected to be about 7:24 a.m., according to timeanddate.com.
The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club’s FAQ page answers dozens of questions about the event and what to expect if you’re heading to Gobbler’s Knob.
They also provided tons of information for anyone traveling in about how to navigate the grounds, surrounding counties and rules and etiquette.
Are there other events throughout the weekend?
Each year, the town and the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club host tons of events in the days leading up to the big moment when Punxsutawney Phil makes his fateful determination.
Last year, the town estimated 35,000 to 40,000 descended on the town for the festivities, club president Tom Dunkel said.
It should be noted that while the main event at Gobbler’s Knob is free, many of the paid 2025 events surrounding this year’s celebration, including the Groundhog Ball, Banquet and Lunch with Phil (as well as parking passes for Gobbler’s Knob) are already sold out.
The festivities kick off Friday morning, and numerous merchants and other locations around the borough host Groundhog Day events, including the Annual Groundhog Banquet on Saturday evening.
A full list of events can be found at the Groundhog Club’s website.
What will the weather be like for Groundhog Day 2025?
It’s the forecast before the forecast.
The National Weather Service predicts a high of 42 degrees Sunday for the party people of Punxsutawney, where it’s expected to be cloudy with a slight chance of snow after 1 p.m. that could mix with rain after 4 p.m.
The overall chance of precipitation is 20%, while winds are expected to blow between 9 and 11 mph and gust as high as 24 mph.
Where can I watch Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction?
A livestream of the event can be seen on Visit PA’s website starting at 6 a.m. Sunday. Post-Gazette.com also will have the livestream.
How accurate are Punxsutawney Phil’s predictions?
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently compiled a list including a plethora of lesser-known winter-predicting creatures across the United States and ordered them all by accuracy.
Though Punxsutawney Phil is at an inherent disadvantage because his pursuit has been the longest — fueled for years by the annually delivered “groundhog punch” or “elixir of life” (or aided by replacements, depending on your belief and level of seriousness) — appearances would dictate the game has largely passed The Meteorologist Hall of Famer by.
His 35% hit rate since he first made a prediction in 1886 put him at 17th on the list (about the same rate the Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum is hitting three-pointers this NBA season) behind such young upstarts as Staten Island Chuck (85%) and General Beauregard Lee (80%, Georgia).
But not being known as the sharpest shooter on the block still beats the real-life real historical events surrounding Phil. (Don’t click with your kids around).
And it’s worth mentioning that a good portion of the list is comprised of statues of various animals and critters that have never been seen. Quite frankly, where is the fun in that?
We’ll still take Phil.
First Published: January 31, 2025, 3:06 p.m.
Updated: February 1, 2025, 12:33 p.m.
