The handlers of Pennsylvania’s most famous groundhog, have released their annual decree from Punxsutawney Phil. Members of Punxsutawney Phil’s top hat-wearing inner circle revealed their forecast at sunrise Friday.
Listen:
The furry rodent has “predicted” six more weeks of
winter after seeing his shadow. Whether the Twin Lakes Area gets any more snow is still up in the air. There has been 2.5 inches of snow so far this year, with a small chance over the next few days.
The festivities have their origin in a German legend that says if a furry rodent casts a shadow on February 2nd, winter continues. If not, spring comes early.
In reality, Phil’s prediction is decided ahead of time by the group on
Gobbler’s Knob, a tiny hill just outside Punxsutawney. That’s about 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.
Records dating to 1887 show Phil has now predicted more winter at 104 times while forecasting an early spring just 18 times, including the year 2016.
There are no records for the remaining years.
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