Punxsutawney Phil Sees His Shadow, Predicts Six More Weeks of Winter at Annual Groundhog Day Celebration

On Thursday morning, Punxsutawney Phil, the legendary groundhog weather watcher, saw his shadow and predicted six more weeks of winter. Thousands of people gathered at Gobbler’s Knob in Pennsylvania to witness the annual Groundhog Day celebration.

The “inner circle”, a group of local dignitaries, were responsible for planning the events, as well as feeding and caring for Phil himself. According to folklore, if he sees his shadow there will be six more weeks of winter.

The annual event in Punxsutawney originated from a German legend about a furry rodent. Each February 2, the members of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club make the pilgrimage to Gobbler’s Knob, Phil’s official home. Though Phil has no meteorology degree, every year the United States tunes in for his prediction.

This year, Phil’s prediction came true and he saw his shadow, calling for six more weeks of winter. Scientifically speaking, winter will officially come to an end on the equinox on March 20, regardless of what Phil predicts.

The Groundhog Day celebration is a beloved tradition in the United States and has been celebrated for over a century. People from all over the country come together to witness the event and await Phil’s prediction. This year, Phil’s prediction of six more weeks of winter has been confirmed.