Groundhog, Weather Service, and Farmer’s Almanac Agree On Midwest’s Spring

Happy Groundhog Day! Is that what you're supposed to say? It's a strange holiday with roots going back hundreds of years. It formally became Groundhog Day in the 1880s with Punxsutawny Phil in Pennsylvania,

Punxsutawney Phil's Prediction

The way it works is if the groundhog comes out in the morning on February 2 and he sees his shadow, winter lasts another 6 weeks. If he doesn't see his shadow, spring comes early. Well, unfortunately for those sick of winter, Phil saw his shadow, which means six more weeks of winter.

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How Accurate Is Punxsutawawney Phil?

Phil is said to be about 40% accurate. So you'd be better off flipping a coin for the chances of an early spring. That's according to the National Weather Service, which has also made their predifiton for this upcoming spring. It looks as if they/'ve come together for their predictions for this spring.

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Farmer's Almanac Predicts Cooler + Wetter Spring For Midwest

The Farmer's Almanac predicts a cooler spring for the entire Midwest, with average rainfall for Minnesota and the Dakotas. Above-average rainfall is predicted for Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan.

National Weather Service Spring Outlook 2026

The National Weather Service predicts that the Great Lakes will see above-average rainfall this spring, which is needed as we've been in drought conditions in the last few months. NOAA expects there to be "drought improvement" across the Great Lakes.