PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (AP) — A furry creature in a western Pennsylvania town predicted six more weeks of winter during the annual Groundhog Day celebration.
People gathered Thursday at Gobbler’s Knob as members of Punxsutawney Phil’s “inner circle” called the groundhog from his stump at dawn to learn if he had seen his shadow — and they say he did. According to folklore, if he sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. If you don’t, spring comes early.
The “inner circle” is a group of local dignitaries who are responsible for planning the events as well as feeding and caring for Phil himself.
The annual event in Punxsutawney, about 65 miles (105 kilometers) northeast of Pittsburgh, originated from a German legend about a furry rodent. The gathering annually attracts thousands.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration compared Punxsutawney Phil’s forecast to national weather over the past 10 years and found that “on average, Phil got it right 40% of the time.”
This year, Phil’s prediction came during a week when a mess of ice, sleet and snow lingered across much of the southern US
According to records dating back to 1887, Phil has predicted winter more than 100 times. Ten years were lost because no records were kept, organizers said.
Forecasts for 2021 and 2022 also predicted six more weeks of winter.
While Punxsutawney Phil may be the most famous groundhog caretaker, he’s certainly not the only one. Chuck of Staten Island, New York, made his early spring forecast during an event Thursday at the Staten Island Zoo. Phil and Chuck are among a wide selection of rodents who supposedly predict the weather.
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