News / Entertainment
Groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, Predicts Early Spring
With a crowd of more than 15,000 awaiting the arrival of Pennsylvania’s most famous forecaster, the question everyone wanted answered was would he or wouldn’t he. Punxsutawney Phil, the world famous groundhog, emerged from his stump and quickly predicted an early spring to an audience that more than doubled the size of the town.
According to German folklore, if a hibernating animal cast a shadow on February 2, it meant another six months of winter. In the event the animal casts no shadow, an early spring is predicted.
The last time Phil failed to see his shadow on the fateful day was 1999.
Records have been kept for Punxsutawney Phil’s predictions since 1896 and only 14 times has the groundhog not seen his shadow.
