PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (AP) — A furry critter in a western Pennsylvania city has predicted six extra weeks of winter throughout an annual Groundhog Day celebration.
Folks gathered Thursday at Gobbler’s Knob as members of Punxsutawney Phil’s “interior circle” summoned the groundhog from his tree stump at daybreak to study if he has seen his shadow — they usually say he did. In response to folklore, if he sees his shadow there shall be six extra weeks of winter. If he doesn’t, spring comes early.
The “interior circle” is a gaggle of native dignitaries who’re accountable for planning the occasions, in addition to feeding and caring for Phil himself.
The annual occasion in Punxsutawney, about 65 miles (105 kilometers) northeast of Pittsburgh, originated from a German legend a few furry rodent. The gathering yearly attracts 1000’s.
The Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in contrast Punxsutawney Phil’s forecast to the nationwide climate the final 10 years and located “on common, Phil has gotten it proper 40% of the time.”
This yr, Phil’s prediction got here throughout every week when a large number of ice, sleet and snow has lingered throughout a lot of the southern U.S.
In response to information courting again to 1887, Phil has predicted winter greater than 100 instances. Ten years have been misplaced as a result of no information have been stored, organizers mentioned.
The 2021 and 2022 forecasts additionally known as for six extra weeks of winter.
Whereas Punxsutawney Phil could be the most well-known groundhog seer, he’s definitely not the one one. New York Metropolis’s Staten Island Chuck made his prediction for an early spring throughout an occasion Thursday on the Staten Island Zoo. Phil and Chuck are amongst a broad choice of rodents that purportedly predict climate.