Groundhog Day: Punxsutawney did not see his shadow, which means more winter - NBC News

PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. — A furry critter successful a occidental Pennsylvania municipality has predicted six much weeks of wintertime during an yearly Groundhog Day celebration.

People gathered Thursday astatine Gobbler’s Knob arsenic members of Punxsutawney Phil’s “inner circle” summoned him from his histrion stump astatine dawn to larn if helium has seen his shadiness — and they accidental helium did. According to folklore, if helium sees his shadiness determination volition beryllium six much weeks of winter. If helium doesn’t, outpouring comes early.

The “inner circle” is simply a radical of section dignitaries who are liable for readying the events, arsenic good arsenic feeding and caring for Phil himself.

The annual lawsuit successful Punxsutawney, astir 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, originated from a German fable astir a furry rodent. The gathering annually attracts thousands.

This year, Phil’s prediction came during a week when a messiness of ice, sleet and snow has lingered crossed overmuch of the confederate U.S.

According to records dating backmost to 1887, Phil has predicted wintertime much than 100 times. Ten years were mislaid due to the fact that nary records were kept, organizers said.

The 2021 and 2022 forecasts also called for six much weeks of winter.

While Punxsutawney Phil whitethorn beryllium the astir celebrated groundhog seer, he’s surely not the lone one. New York City’s Staten Island Chuck made his prediction for an aboriginal outpouring during an lawsuit Thursday astatine the Staten Island Zoo.