The groundhog looks for his shadow on the morning of February 2 , during the annual Groundhog Day ceremony.

When exactly does it happen?

  • Groundhog Day is always held on February 2 , in the early morning, shortly after sunrise.
  • The most famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania, typically emerges around 7:20–7:30 a.m. Eastern Time to check for his shadow.

What the shadow means

  • If he sees his shadow : Folklore says winter will last six more weeks.
  • If he does not see his shadow (cloudy day): It is taken as a sign that spring will come early.

Quick overview table

Event| Date / Time| Meaning in folklore
---|---|---
Groundhog emerges to look| February 2, early morning 13| Checks for shadow to predict spring
Shadow seen| Sunny conditions at emergence 17| Six more weeks of winter 37
No shadow seen| Overcast / cloudy conditions 17| Early arrival of spring 79

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.