In the U.S. the tradition derives from a Scottish poem: As the light grows longer, The cold grows stronger. If Candlemas be fair and bright, Winter will have another flight. |
In western countries in the Northern Hemisphere the official first day of Spring is about six weeks after Groundhog Day, on March 20 or 21. About 1,000 years ago, before the adoption of the Gregorian calendar when the date of the equinox drifted in the Julian calendar, the spring equinox fell on March 16 instead. This was exactly six weeks after February 2. Assuming that the equinox marked the first day of spring in certain medieval cultures, as it does now in western countries, Groundhog Day occurred exactly six weeks before spring. Therefore, if the groundhog saw his shadow on Groundhog Day there would be six more weeks of winter. If he didn’t, there would be 42 more days of winter. In other words, the Groundhog Day tradition may have begun as a bit of folk humor.
Regardless, the annual prognostication occurs in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. According to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, 1886 was the first year that Groundhog Day in the city's newspaper. The first official prediction occurred the following year, with Phil seeing his shadow and predicting 6 more weeks of winter. He has been making forecasts ever since.
Below are some Groundhog Day weather statistics for Pittsburgh, PA, Morgantown, WV and Zanesville, OH.
Pittsburgh, PA:
The following statistics comprises 150 years of data. From 1871 through June 1945, the data came from various locations in downtown Pittsburgh. From July 1945 through mid-September 1952, the data came from the Allegheny County Airport. Since then, the data has been gathered at the Pittsburgh International Airport.
Groundhog Day in Pittsburgh, PA (Period of Record 1871-2021) |
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1991-2020 Normals
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Records
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Maximum Temperature |
37°F
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Warmest High Temperature |
62°F
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February 2, 1903
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Coldest High Temperature |
10°F
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February 2, 1971
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Minimum Temperature |
21°F
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Warmest Low Temperature |
46°F
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February 2, 1903
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Coldest Low Temperature |
-7°F
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February 2, 1961
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Average Temperature |
29°F
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Warmest Average Temperature |
51.5°F
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February 2, 1877
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Coldest Average Temperature |
1.0°F
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February 2, 1971
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Precipitation |
0.09"
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Wettest |
1.04"
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February 2, 1988
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Snowfall |
0.5"
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Snowiest |
2.5"
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February 2, 2007
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Snow Depth at 7 AM |
2"
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Most Snow of Ground at 7 AM *record since 1948* |
11"
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February 2, 1966
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The odds of having any precipitation at all on Groundhog Day is 75.3% (113 out of 150). There has been measurable (0.01" or greater) precipitation on 73 Groundhog Days (48.7%) and trace amounts (less than 0.01") of precipitation on 40 Groundhog Days (26.6%).
Since 1880, it has snowed on 79 out of 140 (56%) Groundhog Days. Measurable snow (0.1" or greater) has fallen on 42 Groundhog Days (30%) and trace of snow (a dusting) has fallen on another 37 Groundhog Days (26%)
Since 1948, residents have woken up with measurable snow (1/2" or greater) on the ground 33 times (45.2%), trace amounts (less than a 1/2" inch) 12 times (16.4%), and no snow 28 times (38.4%).
The odds of having a maximum temperature at or below freezing (32°F) on Groundhog Day is 36% (53 out of 146), and the odds of having a minimum temperature at or below freezing is 83% (122 out of 146). The odds of having a minimum temperature at or below 0°F on Groundhog Day is 4% (6 out of 146).
In 2021, the high temperature was 30°F and the low temperature was 22°F. A total of 0.12" of precipitation fell, with 1.9" of snow. There was 6" of snow on the ground at 7 AM. The average wind speed was 17.0 mph, with a maximum speed of 28 mph out of the north northwest.
Morgantown, WV:
The following statistics comprises 148 years of data. From 1873 through July 1946, the data came from a cooperative observer in the Morgantown area with occasional periods of missing data. Since then, the data has come from the Morgantown Municipal Airport-Walter L. Bill Hart Field.
Groundhog Day in Morgantown, WV (Period of Record 1873-2021) |
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1991-2020 Normals
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Records
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Maximum Temperature |
41°F
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Warmest High Temperature |
67°F
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February 2, 1915
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Coldest High Temperature |
11°F
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February 2, 1971
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Minimum Temperature |
24°F
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Warmest Low Temperature |
47°F
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February 2, 1990
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Coldest Low Temperature |
-6°F
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February 2, 1971
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Average Temperature |
32°F
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Warmest Average Temperature |
56°F
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February 2, 1989
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Coldest Average Temperature |
2.3°F
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February 2, 1971
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Precipitation |
0.10"
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Wettest |
1.20"
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February 2, 1925
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The odds of having any precipitation at all on Groundhog Day is 61% (80 out of 132). There has been measurable (0.01" or greater) precipitation on 56 Groundhog Days (42%) and trace amounts (less than 0.01") of precipitation on 24 Groundhog Days (18%).
The odds of having a maximum temperature at or below freezing (32°F) on Groundhog Day is 29% (39 out of 134), and the odds of having a minimum temperature at or below freezing is 77% (103 out of 134). The odds of having a minimum temperature at or below 0°F on Groundhog Day is 4% (5 out of 134).
In 2021, the high temperature was 33°F and the low temperature was 25°F. A total of 0.14" of precipitation fell. The average wind speed was 6.0 mph, with a maximum speed of 12 mph from the northwest.
Zanesville, OH:
The following statistics comprises 125 years of data. From 1896 through July 1946, the data came from a cooperative observer in the Zanesville area with occasional periods of missing data. Since then, the data has come from the Zanesville Municipal Airport.
Groundhog Day in Zanesville, OH (Period of Record 1887-2021) |
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1991-2020 Normals
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Records
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Maximum Temperature |
39°F
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Warmest High Temperature |
65°F
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February 2, 1903
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Coldest High Temperature |
8°F
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February 2, 1951
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Minimum Temperature |
21°F
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Warmest Low Temperature |
41°F
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February 2, 1983
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Coldest Low Temperature |
-13°F
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February 2, 1951
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Average Temperature |
30°F
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Warmest Average Temperature |
49.3°F
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February 2, 1988
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Coldest Average Temperature |
4.0°F
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February 2, 1971
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Precipitation |
0.08"
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Wettest |
1.22"
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February 2, 1988
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The odds of having any precipitation at all on Groundhog Day is 62% (77 out of 124). There has been measurable (0.01" or greater) precipitation on 54 Groundhog Days (43.5%) and trace amounts (less than 0.01") of precipitation on 23 Groundhog Days (18.5%).
The odds of having a maximum temperature at or below freezing (32°F) on Groundhog Day is 32% (40 out of 124), and the odds of having a minimum temperature at or below freezing is 81% (101 out of 124). The odds of having a minimum temperature at or below 0°F on Groundhog Day is 8% (10 out of 124).
In 2021, the high temperature was 31°F and the low temperature was 24°F. A total of 0.01" of precipitation fell. The average wind speed was 11.2 mph, with a maximum wind speed of 21 mph out of the northwest.
Below are some weather events that took place on this day: