Punxsutawney Phil predicted an early spring this year at the annual Groundhog Day celebration on Friday.

What Phil has predicted This is the 21st early spring festival since the annual festival began in 1887. according to Go to the National Environmental Information Center. He predicted 107 times that there would be six more weeks of winter.

Legend has it that if a groundhog sees its own shadow, six more weeks of winter will come. according to At the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club.

From 2015 to 2020, the groundhog predicted three more six-week winters and three more early springs. according to Go to ABC News. According to records from 2017, Punxsutawney Phil has seen his own shadow 103 times and predicted early spring 18 times. according to Go to the timeline published by Punxsutawney Groundhog Club.

Fox News weather anchor Janice Dean said his prediction was “very unusual.” (Related article: Humorless liberal scolds Punxsutawney Phil)

According to the National Center for Environmental Information, Phil has made correct predictions 30% of the time over the past 10 years. In 2023, the groundhog predicted a long winter, even though many parts of the United States saw above-average temperatures in February and March.

tradition have an origin From German folklore, if a hedgehog sees its own shadow during the Christian festival of Candlemas, a second winter is sure to come. German settlers introduced this legend to the United States after settling in Western Pennsylvania. Since there are no hedgehogs in the United States, groundhogs have taken their place.