Groundhog Day 2012: Phil Predicts 6 More Weeks of Winter

Groundhog Phil saw his shadow on Thursday morning, in front of thousands of eagerly waiting people, which predicted 6 more weeks of winter. Every year, on February 2, Phil comes out of his burrow on Gobbler’s Knob, to predict the weather for the rest of the season. Punxsutawney Phil is making predictions for the last 125 years and this year, it is his 126th prediction.

At 7:25 am, around 18,000 people gathered in front of Phil’s burrow to witness the prediction of groundhog Phil at Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. According to legend, changes in seasonal weather can be predicted by Phil’s sighting of his shadow. If he sees the shadow, there would be six more weeks of winter and if he is not seeing it, there would be an early spring.

The celebration of Groundhog Day began with Pennsylvania’s earliest settlers. Punxsutawney held its first Groundhog Day in the 1800s and its first official trek to Gobbler’s Knob was made on February 2, 1887, claims a website dedicated to Punxsutawney Phil, groundhog.org.

However, the groundhog predicted an early spring for Canadians ;)

Groundhog handler Ron Ploucha holds famed weather prognosticating groundhog Punxsutawney Phil after he made his annual weather prediction on Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, on the 126th Groundhog Day, February 2, 2012. Phil saw his shadow, signaling six more weeks of winter. (Reuters)

Groundhog handler John Griffith holds famed weather prognosticating groundhog Punxsutawney Phil up to the crowd before Phil makes his annual weather prediction on Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, on the 126th Groundhog Day, February 2, 2012. (Reuters)

Phil saw his shadow, signaling six more weeks of winter. (Reuters)

WTAJ meteorologist Joe Murgo tries to interview famed weather prognosticating groundhog Punxsutawney Phil on Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney. (Reuters)

Phil saw his shadow, signaling six more weeks of winter. (Reuters)

Shirley Moffat and Joanne Alexander of Plum, Pennsylvania wait for famed weather prognosticating groundhog Punxsutawney Phil 02/02/2012. (Reuters)

Al Donst of Belvidere, New Jersey, waits with thousands of people for famed weather prognosticating groundhog Punxsutawney Phil 02/02/2012. (Reuters)

Wiarton Mayor John Close gestures next to groundhog Wiarton Willie during the Wiarton Willie Fesitval on Groundhog Day in Wiarton, Ontario, February 2, 2012. The albino groundhog did not see his shadow, meaning an early spring. (Reuters)

‘Retired Rodenteers’ wait to see if groundhog Wiarton Willie sees his shadow during the Wiarton Willie Festival on Groundhog Day in Wiarton. (Reuters)