Each year on February 2, news people gather in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, with cameras focused on the burrow of a groundhog referred to as Punxsutawney Phil. Supposedly, if Phil wakes from his winter nap, sticks his head out of his burrow, and then sees his shadow, he will be frightened and return to his bed. If Phil does not see his shadow, he remains outdoors, supposedly signaling an early spring. No scientific evidence supports the idea that only a groundhog's shadow in Punxsutawney can be used to make this prediction. But there may be some validity to the tradition.
Shadows appear only on sunlit days.
In February, clear skies and sunshine often occur as a result of cold air masses that generally hang around for a while, so shadows of any kind on February 2 might be an indication of more winter weather. More Fun Time Have each child make a large paper groundhog. Tape the groundhog to wire, such as a clothes hanger. Observe the groundhog as often as possible during Groundhog Day to see if a shadow appears. After Groundhog Day, keep a daily weather journal during February.