Report Questions Punxsutawney Phil’s accuracy by predicting the early spring

Pennsylvania’s Punxsutawney Phil It is perhaps the best -known weather -expensive Groundhog, but a new list raises doubts about his accuracy. Phil made it so bad that even -living critters exceeded him by predicting an early spring.

Phil, led by handlers and his shadow -based predictions, came in 17. Out of 19 Critters ranked by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Center for Environmental Information‘p Accuracy ranking list.

So which Groundhogs are distinguished by predicting longer winters?

New Yorks Staten Island Chuck topped Noaa’s list of an impressive 85%accuracy rate, followed by Georgia’s general Beauregard Lee in second place of 80%, and Wyomings land Li – a bronze statue of a prairie dog – in the third of 75%. Phil came in at 17 out of 19 – behind a trio of Taxidermied Groundhogs – with an accuracy of only 35%, NOAA said.

“Although he is not the most accurate seasonal prognostic, we would be abandoned not to honor the longest -driven weather -proposed Groundhog in the United States, Punxsutawney Phil,” NOAA wrote. “A beloved national celebrity, the legend, says he has prophesied when spring would arrive from his gap on the gobler’s dial since 1887. How has he lived so long? The answer is simple … “Groundhog nog”, which was fed to him every fall at Punxsutawney’s annual Groundhog -Picnic. “

How does Critters cut Noaa’s weather predictable ‘Groundhogs’ list?

According to NOAAQualifying Critters must meet two key criteria:

They must have a track record of at least 20 years February 2nd forecasts.

They still have to be active from February 2nd, 2024.

“These earth dogs – along with a turtle whose emergence from his winter stuffing (hibernation to reptiles) predict to come in the spring, and a prairie dog statue whose shade at sunrise predicts how long it will be until spring arrives – has been classified and ranked Based on their accuracy in the last 20 years using March temperature average for the United States every year from 2005 to 2024, ”NOAA noted.

Does Phil get it right in 2025?

Find out it Sunday, February 2nd, 2025, when Phil makes his prediction – Shadow means six weeks more in the winter!