Groundhog Day: Punxsutawney Phil sees no shadow, forecasts early spring

The biggest meteorological holiday of the year has arrived, and the famous resident of Punxsutawney, Pa., has emerged from his burrow to make his annual Groundhog Day forecast.

Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow on Friday morning, declaring that spring will arrive early this year.

Phil saw his shadow for the past three years and called for a prolonged winter. This followed 2019 and 2020 when Phil called for spring to arrive early, the first time that the groundhog predicted an early spring in back-to-back years.

The annual Groundhog Day tradition dates back to the 1800s, and massive crowds gather in Punxsutawney every year as people await Phil’s meteorological prognostication.

AccuWeather long-range meteorologists released their annual U.S. spring forecast on Wednesday, and some parts of the country will indeed see an early arrival of spring-like weather, while winter will retain its grip on other regions of the country.

Meteorological spring officially begins on March 1, while astronomical spring begins on the equinox, which takes place at 11:06 p.m. EDT on March 19.