Punxsutawney Phil Lays Out Cold Hard Facts At Annual Groundhog Day Ceremony
The weather-predicting rodent emerged from his burrow on a snowy Tuesday morning to, as tradition dictates, stare at his shadow.
PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (AP) There will be six more weeks of winter, Punxsutawney Phil predicted as he emerged from his burrow on a snowy Tuesday morning to perform his Groundhog Day duties.
Members of Phil’s “inner circle” woke up the furry critter at 7:25 a.m. at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to see whether he would see his shadow or not.
Shortly after this year’s prediction was revealed, one of the members of the inner circle shared a message he said Phil had told him earlier in the day: “After winter, you’re looking forward to one of the most beautiful and brightest springs you’ve ever seen.”
Barry Reeger / AP
Originally published on February 2, 2021 11:38 am
The morning after a winter storm dumped up to 2 feet of snow in parts of the northeastern U.S., a world-renowned groundhog named Phil emerged from his burrow and predicted six more weeks of winter.
Continuing a 135-year-long Groundhog Day tradition, members of Punxsutawney Phil s inner circle woke him up early Tuesday morning to see whether he would spot his own shadow. They said he did, signaling a longer wait for spring weather.
This year s ceremony, held as usual at Gobbler s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pa., was closed to spectators because of the pandemic, but was streamed online where it had more than 180,000 views by early afternoon.
It is Groundhog Day in the US – virtually.
The annual ritual held at Gobbler’s Knob, Pennsylvania, to see if a famous groundhog will emerge from his burrow and portend the end of winter will be held on Tuesday.
But this year, because of Covid-19, Groundhog Day – made famous in the 1993 film of the same name – will be off limits to the public and conducted virtually, with viewers able to watch online thanks to the Pennsylvania Tourism Office.
In an event dating back to 1887, each year on February 2 onlookers have made their way to the hill, near the town of Punxsutawney, north-east of Pittsburgh, to watch for a sign of the end of winter from a groundhog.
On Groundhog Day, Punxsutawney Phil predicts 6 more weeks of winter
After a unique year, one of the furry animalâs âinner circleâ members said, âGroundhog Day shows us that the monotony ends. The cycle will be broken.â
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Groundhog Club co-handler Al Dereume holds Punxsutawney Phil, the weather prognosticating groundhog, during last year s celebration of Groundhog Day on Gobbler s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pa. Due to safety precautions regarding COVID-19 transmission, the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club has said there will be no public attendance for the 2021 event. [ BARRY REEGER | AP ]
Updated Feb. 2
PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. â There will be six more weeks of winter, Punxsutawney Phil predicted as he emerged from his burrow on a snowy Tuesday morning to perform his Groundhog Day duties.