Happy Groundhog Day 2023! Did Phil see his Shadow?

We’re dealing with some seriously cold weather, give us good news Phil! Happy Groundhog Day, will Punxsutawney Phil see his shadow? Unfortunately, according to fox2detroit.com, Phil saw his shadow. And as the lore goes, that means six more weeks of winter.

Phil’s handler read this scroll early Thursday morning:

“I see that everyone knows their part, and I am merely the sage, but above all else, I see a shadow on my stage. And so, no matter how you measure, it’s six more weeks of winter weather,”

Phil has been predicting long winters for the last 2 years. 2020 was the last time he saw an early spring. But as history goes, Phil has predicted way more winters than springs. The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club keeps records of all of Phil’s predictions. Phil has predicted 107 continued winters and 23 early springs as of 2023. Stormfax.com gives Phil a 39% accuracy rating.

The Farmer’s Almanac gives about a 72% accuracy rating, so Phil is not doing too badly. I feel though that 23 springs seems like an awfully low and depressing number. As Phil, played by Bill Murray, in Groundhog’s Day says:

“You want a prediction about the weather, you’re asking the wrong Phil. I’ll give you a winter prediction: It’s gonna be cold, it’s gonna be grey, and it’s gonna last you for the rest of your life.”

I mean according to those numbers, he’s not wrong! That’s 107 years of cold winters.

However, luckily, mother nature does not bend to the will of Phil. Unless the weather vastly alters in the next few days, we have a warm week coming ahead of us. Temperatures in the 40s.

Germans brought the idea of predicting the weather with a groundhog when they settled in Punxsutawney in the 1800s. Groundhog Day did not become recognized until Feb 2, 1887. And like 106 other times, Phil predicted a long winter.

Now, on the other hand, Michigan’s own Woody the Woodchuck predicted an early Spring!

Happy Groundhog or Woodchuck day everyone!

Bill Murray: 7 Moments that Prove He's a Modern Folk Hero

Bill Murray has made countless contributions to TV and film. From breaking out as a star on Saturday Night Live to hit films ranging from the Ghostbusters franchise to Lost in Translation, he’s carved out a unique career many would dream of having.

However, in the past decade and a half, he’s somehow captured the zeitgeist of “going viral.” Murray has essentially become more myth than man. It’s been a truly impressive feat to experience with every wacky headline he makes. What other celebrity would have the guts to attempt a no-look putt during a high-profile pro-am tournament? (Spoiler: Yes, he sinks it, and he looks so cool doing it!)

Whether funny, absurd or just sweet, here are seven of the Bill Murray-est moments of all time in honor of his birthday today (September 21).

  • Pretty Much Anything Involving the Chicago Cubs Winning the World Series in 2016

    There were so many incredible moments from the Cubs’ historic win, but who couldn’t be happy because Bill was happy? We bet every MLB team wishes they had a fan as iconic as the man who played Phil Connors. It certainly would make celebrations like this even more entertaining.

  • His Cameo In ‘Zombieland’

    Truthfully, this might be one of the best film cameos of the new millennium. It’s simultaneously funny, surprising and a bit dark. This is literally everything a cameo should be.

  • Honoring Harold Ramis at the Oscars

    Murray was presenting the Oscar for Best Cinematography with Amy Adams when he paid tribute to his late friend and collaborator. It was clearly an ad-lib, which likely made producers and showrunners nervous for a second. However, how could you not appreciate the sweetness of this moment?

  • Attending the ‘Groundhog Day’ Musical…twice…in a row!

    In 2017, Murray carved out the time to see the critically acclaimed stage musical adaptation of Groundhog Day. Not only did he meet with the entire cast, but he came back the next day to watch the show again. What a guy for giving that cast an experience they’ll never forget!

  • Anytime he sings or does karaoke

    Ever find yourself feeling low? Watch Bill Murray perform “Gloria,” and then all of a sudden, you have a new lease on life. We bet even the notoriously crotchety Van Morrison would appreciate this a little bit!

  • Crashing random events

    Bachelor parties, engagement photos, a White House press briefing. Only Bill Murray could get away with this! (Seriously, only he could get away with this! It would almost be straight-up rude and tacky if anyone else even tried to pull off these stunts.)

  • The fact there's now a documentary about him crashing random events

    Check out the trailer below for The Bill Murray Stories. The documentary gathers all of the dirt on Bill’s random moments that always make headlines. Imagine living in such a way that it inspires a light-hearted documentary.

Hot Scott, aka Scotty, when not wrangling his chihuahua he's writing, painting, and playing games. Loves Dungeon and Dragons, comics, and everything nerdy and geeky. He has an uncontrollable beard and has been known to wear a kilt on the right occasion. Might be a robot, we are checking on that. Send oil.

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