No shadow: Pennsylvania groundhog 'predicts' early spring
PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (AP) - Spring will come early!
That’s the forecast after Pennsylvania's most famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, popped up and did not see his shadow at sunrise, just before 7:30 a.m. Tuesday morning.
Members of his top hat-wearing inner circle were set up all morning long awaiting the big reveal, though, in reality, Phil's "prediction" is decided ahead of time by the group on Gobbler's Knob.
The tiny hill is located just outside the town of Punxsutawney, about 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.
As German legend has it, if the furry rodent would have seen his shadow, we would have been in for six more weeks of winter.
Records going back to 1887 have Phil forecasting more winter 102 times, while forecasting an early spring just 17 times. There are no records for the remaining years.