Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Thursday, February 2, 2017
(GOBBLER’S KNOB) - Punxutawney Phil saw his shadow this morning, predicting six more weeks of winter during Groundhog Day festivities at Gobbler’s Knob, a small hill just outside Phil’s hometown.
Members of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club's Inner Circle revealed Phil's forecast by poem as is tradition.
"It's mighty cold weather, you've been braving," this year's verse read. "Is it more winter or is it spring that you're craving? Since you've been up all night and starting to tottle, I, Punxsutawney Phil, shall not dawdle," the proclamation read. "My faithful followers, I could clearly see a beautiful, perfect shadow of me. Six more weeks of winter, it shall be!"
Records dating to 1887 show Phil predicting more winter 102 times while forecasting an early spring just 18 times -- including last year, the AP reports. There are no records for the remaining years.
Dunkirk Dave also predicted six more weeks of winter after emerging in Dunkirk, New York. Dave, actually a female groundhog whose non-stage name is Sidewinder, is claimed to be the world's second-longest predicting groundhog.
But, Gen. Beauregard Lee, a resident groundhog at Georgia's Yellow River Game Ranch in Gwinnett County, predicted an early spring, along with a Super Bowl win for the Atlanta Falcons.
The Groundhog Day tradition has its origin in a German legend that says if a furry rodent casts a shadow on Feb. 2, winter continues, the Associated Press reports. If not, spring comes early.
Weather.com senior meteorologist Jonathan Erdman says that most northern cities have to go into April in an average year before feeling safe to store the shovel or snowthrower for the season. On the other hand for much of the Northeast urban corridor and parts of the Lower Midwest, snow is typically done by the end of March.
Earlier - Today is Groundhog day and all eyes are on Punxsutawney Phil as he makes his yearly prediction.The annual event brings tens of thousands of people to Gobbler's Knob to find out of Phil sees his shadow - a sign of six more weeks of winter - or doesn't see his shadow - an indicator of warmer weather.
Punxsutawney has been celebrating Groundhog Day since 1886, a nod to its early German settlers. Groundhog Club members said there's only been one Phil the entire time - thanks to an "elixir of life" he drinks each year - and that's the groundhog's weather predictions have proven to be "100 percent correct."
So, what are Phil's recent predictions? Here are a decade's worth:
1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com
© Ad-Venture Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.