Groundhog Day: Punxsutawney Phil Sees His Shadow, Predicts Early Spring

Groundhog Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow this morning, predicting that we will have an early spring in 2016.

Groundhog Day: Punxsutawney Predicts Early Spring

The groundhog, a native of Pennsylvania, was gathered from his habitat in Gobbler’s Knob this morning by the top hat-wearing Inner Circle. At sunrise (7:30 a.m.) Tuesday, it was determined that Punxsutawney Phil had not seen his shadow, forecasting that spring will come early, reported CBS.

If groundhog Phil had seen his shadow, it would have indicated that we’d likely have six additional weeks of wintery weather ahead of us.

Phil’s hometown of Punxsutawney, Penn., has been the location of the Groundhog Day ceremony since the late 1800s, according to The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. Phil is from a long line of weather predicting groundhogs – his first ancestor taking up the charge in 1887. Since that year, Groundhog Day has indicated a prolonged winter 102 times, and an early spring only 18.

While much is made of the spectacle, whether or not Phil sees his shadow is actually not left up to chance. The group involved in the tradition determines prior to the ceremony whether or not the rodent will “see” his shadow.

Groundhog Day is a tradition that has its roots in German folklore.