Groundhog Day Statistics

Every February 2, tens of thousands of people gather in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to celebrate Groundhog Day. On this date the groundhog Punxsutawney Phil - that seer of seers and prognosticator of prognosticators - emerges from his burrow in a hollowed out tree stump at Gobbler‘s Knob. Legend has it that if he sees his shadow, the there will be six more weeks of winter. And if not, then there will be an early spring. Phil’s forecasts are spoken in Groundhogese to a member of the Inner Circle. This group of Puxatany notables not only translates Phil’s forecast into English, they are also responsible for the care and feeding of Phil throughout the rest of the year. This tradition is said to have started in 1887, and has grown in popularity in the years since. The groundhog‘s popularity was given an even greater boost following the release of the 1993 Bill Murray movie Groundhog Day. The origins of Groundhog Day come from the Christian celebration of Candlemas. This day, corresponding to 40 days after Christmas, celebrates the day the infant Jesus was presented in the Jewish Temple. February 2 also marks the midpoint of the coldest temperatures in the northern hemisphere. Historically a rule of thumb stated that in order to have enough food for livestock, farmers should have half of their stored provisions remaining on Candlemas day. Little to none of this remains in the modern day celebration of Groundhog Day. What follows is a collection of forecasts from Groundhog Days of years past, according to Punxsutawneys official Groundhog Club. Year Result 1887 Saw Shadow 1888 Saw Shadow 1889 No Record 1890 No Shadow 1891 No Record 1892 No Record 1893 No Record 1894 No Record 1895 No Record 1896 No Record 1897 No Record 1898 Saw Shadow 1899 No Record 1900 Saw Shadow 1901 Saw Shadow 1902 No Shadow 1903 Saw Shadow 1904 Saw Shadow 1905 Saw Shadow 1906 Saw Shadow 1907 Saw Shadow 1908 Saw Shadow 1909 Saw Shadow 1910 Saw Shadow 1911 Saw Shadow 1912 Saw Shadow 1913 Saw Shadow 1914 Saw Shadow 1915 Saw Shadow 1916 Saw Shadow 1917 Saw Shadow 1918 Saw Shadow 1919 Saw Shadow 1920 Saw Shadow 1921 Saw Shadow 1922 Saw Shadow 1923 Saw Shadow 1924 Saw Shadow 1925 Saw Shadow 1926 Saw Shadow 1927 Saw Shadow 1928 Saw Shadow 1929 Saw Shadow 1930 Saw Shadow 1931 Saw Shadow 1932 Saw Shadow 1933 Saw Shadow 1934 No Shadow 1935 Saw Shadow 1936 Saw Shadow 1937 Saw Shadow 1938 Saw Shadow 1939 Saw Shadow 1940 Saw Shadow 1941 Saw Shadow 1942 Partial Shadow 1943 No Appearance by Groundhog 1944 Saw Shadow 1945 Saw Shadow 1946 Saw Shadow 1947 Saw Shadow 1948 Saw Shadow 1949 Saw Shadow 1950 No Shadow 1951 Saw Shadow 1952 Saw Shadow 1953 Saw Shadow 1954 Saw Shadow 1955 Saw Shadow 1956 Saw Shadow 1957 Saw Shadow 1958 Saw Shadow 1959 Saw Shadow 1960 Saw Shadow 1961 Saw Shadow 1962 Saw Shadow 1963 Saw Shadow 1964 Saw Shadow 1965 Saw Shadow 1966 Saw Shadow 1967 Saw Shadow 1968 Saw Shadow 1969 Saw Shadow 1970 No Shadow 1971 Saw Shadow 1972 Saw Shadow 1973 Saw Shadow 1974 Saw Shadow 1975 No Shadow 1976 Saw Shadow 1977 Saw Shadow 1978 Saw Shadow 1979 Saw Shadow 1980 Saw Shadow 1981 Saw Shadow 1982 Saw Shadow 1983 No Shadow 1984 Saw Shadow 1985 Saw Shadow 1986 No Shadow 1987 Saw Shadow 1988 No Shadow 1989 Saw Shadow 1990 No Shadow 1991 Saw Shadow 1992 Saw Shadow 1993 Saw Shadow 1994 Saw Shadow 1995 No Shadow 1996 Saw Shadow 1997 No Shadow 1998 Saw Shadow 1999 No Shadow 2000 Saw Shadow 2001 Saw Shadow 2002 Saw Shadow 2003 Saw Shadow 2004 Saw Shadow 2005 Saw Shadow 2006 Saw Shadow 2007 No Shadow 2008 Saw Shadow 2009 Saw Shadow 2010 Saw Shadow 2011 No Shadow 2012 Saw Shadow 2013 No Shadow 2014 Saw Shadow 2015 Saw Shadow 2016 No Shadow