Move over Punxsutawney Phil.
Phil the Gator is here to take over the spring prediction. After all, Phil the groundhog’s track record isn’t so great, according to the experts at NOAA.
Of course, there’s more than one weather forecaster out there. Here’s looking at you AccuWeather, NWS, Fox Weather and The Weather Channel.
But we’re talking about the four-legged, feathered or even reptilian predictors who answer the question of when spring will arrive, especially after snow and freezing temperatures in Florida this month.
When is Groundhog Day 2026?
Groundhog Day in the United States and Canada is held on Feb. 2 every year. In 2026, that lands on a Monday.
No, it’s not a holiday.
What happens on Groundhog Day?
On Feb. 2, at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, Punxsutawney Phil — the groundhog, not the city — is brought forward.
If he — just assuming here, didn’t check for gender — sees his shadow on Feb. 2, winter will last for for six more weeks.
If there’s no shadow, it will be an early spring.
What did Punxsutawney Phil predict in 2025?
In 2025, Punxsutawney Phil predicted six more weeks of winter.
Phil the Gator in Florida issues his own predictions
In Jackson County, Florida, Phil the Gator issues his own prediction for when spring will return. Of course, in Florida, sometimes it’s a little hard to tell the difference between winter and spring, but we digress.
First a little explanation on how to “read” what Phil the Gator is predicting. According to Visit Jackson County, Phil emerges from Lake Seminole, takes a look around and:
Emerging from Lake Seminole on Feb. 2, 2025, Phil the Gator “didn’t even hesitate — he’s already sunbathing on the bank, so get ready for spring in Florida … or just more of the same perfect weather.”
How accurate is Punxsutawney Phil?
According to NOAA, Punxsutawney Phil has been accurate about 35% of the time.
In 2025, AccuWeather issued its spring forecast after Phil’s forecast. No word on whether Phil’s forecast influenced AccuWeather’s prediction.
How accurate is Phil the Gator?
Can’t find the answer to that question and who’s going to tell Phil the Gator he needs to work on his forecasts?
Battling Phil the Gator for Florida’s spring forecast is Athene, the burrowing owl
Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife will hold its Eighth Annual Ground Owl Day on Monday, Feb. 2.
The city’s official bird, the burrowing owl, will be represented by Athene, the burrowing owl mascot. If Athene sees her shadow, that will signal the coming of spring.
What other animals are used to forecast end of winter?
Among the other prognosticators used to predict the end of winter are:
Reading the animal signs to predict weather
Punxsutawney Phil may have reached celebrity status, but there are plenty of other animals out there to watch for weather predictions. According to The Weather Channel, people keep eye on everything from frogs to cows.
When is the first day of spring 2026?
The first day of spring 2026 will arrive at 10:46 a.m. ET on Friday, March 20.
The spring equinox marks the official start of the spring season, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
What is NOAA’s spring outlook?
Old Farmer’s Almanac predicting average temperatures for Florida in February
In its long-range weather forecast for Florida, the Old Farmer’s Almanac was predicting average temperatures and above average rainfall in February.
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What does Candlemas have to do with spring/winter forecast?
Celebrated on Feb. 2, Candlemas marks the day Mary and Joseph presented Jesus at the Temple 40 days after his birth, known as the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple.
On the day, Christians would take their candles to the church to have them blessed. The day also marks the halfway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, according to St. Blase.org.
An English folk song highlights the transition to weather prognostication:
If Candlemas be fair and bright,Come, Winter, have another flight;If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,Go Winter, and come not again.
When the belief was introduced to Germany, a hedgehog entered the picture. If the hedgehog saw his shadow on Candlemas Day there would be a “Second Winter” or six more weeks of bad weather, according to groundhog.org.
Seeing some similarities yet?
When German settlers arrived in the United States, the groundhog was selected and thus Punxsutawney Phil became a celebrity, announcing his forecasts since 1877.
“As time went by, the connection with Candlemas and its customs began to fall by the wayside,” until we were left with Punxsutawney Phil.
Cheryl McCloud is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida’s service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at tallahassee.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Move over Punxsutawney Phil. Florida’s Phil the Gator will take over
Reporting by Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Naples Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
