Pennsylvania’s most famous weather-predicting groundhog has forecast six more weeks of winter.
The prophecy of Punxsutawney Phil, who was immortalised in the Bill Murray classic Groundhog day, relies on whether the rodent sees his shadow on February 2.
Sadly for Americans hoping for a respite from the icy blasts, Phil did indeed observe his silhouette, meaning a further six weeks of weather. (When he doesn’t, spring comes early).
Punxsutawney Phil has made his annual prediction
Members of the top-hat wearing Inner Circle announced Phil’s prediction, based on German legend, on Monday morning.
The forecast was also announced on Twitter, as was referenced in the official proclamation read by Jeff Lundy, the Fair Weatherman of the Inner Circle.
"Forecasts abound on the Internet, but, I, Punxsutawney Phil am still your best bet. Yes, a shadow I see, you can start to Twitter, hash tag: Six more weeks of winter!"
The forecast was delivered after a steady pre-dawn rain turned to snow as temperatures dropped from the high 30s to around freezing.
They were forecast to keep dropping over much of the state, prompting the state Department of Transportation to lower the speed limit to 45 mph for many interstate highways which were already wet and expected to freeze or be covered with snow as the day wore on.
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Groundhog Day 2015
The rain kept some revelers away, with state police estimating the crowd at around 11,000, slightly smaller than in recent years when upward of 15,000 attended.
No mention was made of Sunday night's Super Bowl, unlike Groundhog Day 2009 — the last time the celebration occurred the morning after the big game — which was won by the nearby Pittsburgh Steelers that year.
Despite the German legend, Phil's handlers don't wait to see if he sees his shadow — as he likely would not have on such an overcast day.
Instead, the Inner Circle decide on the forecast ahead of time and announce it on Gobbler's Knob, a tiny hill in the town for which the groundhog is named, about 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.
Records going back to 1887 show Phil has now predicted more winter 102 times while forecasting an early spring just 17 times. There are no records for the remaining years.