PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. — A furry critter in a western Pennsylvania city has predicted six extra weeks of winter throughout an annual Groundhog Day celebration.
Individuals gathered Thursday at Gobbler’s Knob as members of Punxsutawney Phil’s “interior circle” summoned him from his tree stump at daybreak to study if he has seen his shadow — and so they say he did. In keeping with folklore, if he sees his shadow there will likely be six extra weeks of winter. If he doesn’t, spring comes early.
The “interior circle” is a gaggle of native dignitaries who’re chargeable for planning the occasions, in addition to feeding and caring for Phil himself.
The annual occasion in Punxsutawney, about 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, originated from a German legend a few furry rodent. The gathering yearly attracts 1000’s.
This yr, Phil’s prediction got here throughout every week when a multitude of ice, sleet and snow has lingered throughout a lot of the southern U.S.
In keeping with information relationship 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 often is 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.