WJACTV.com News 

Story

Punxsutawney Phil Predicts Six More Weeks Of Winter

The world's most famous groundhog saw his shadow Monday, meaning, legend has it, that this already long winter will last for six more weeks.

Punxsutawney Phil's forecast was announced in front of about 13,000 people gathered at Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney.


Punxsutawney Phil Sees His Shadow

Officials said more people showed up than expected and spectators gathered Monday morning in near freezing temperatures, Organizers said people began arriving around 3 a.m., just hours after the Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl victory Sunday night.

Groundhog Day fell on the day after the Super Bowl one other time, in 2004.

German tradition holds that if a hibernating animal casts a shadow on Feb. 2 -- the Christian holiday of Candlemas -- winter would last another six weeks. If no shadow was seen, legend said spring would come early.

Since 1886, Phil has seen his shadow 97 times, has failed to see it 15 times, and there are no records for nine years, according to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. The last time Phil didn't see his shadow was in 1999.

More Headlines

Celebrations

Are you or someone you know turning 85 or older? Or, celebrating an anniversary of 50 years or longer? Tell us about it and we'll tell the rest of the Alleghenies during Channel 6 News at Noon. Events must be submitted three weeks prior. Be sure to include the person's name, the date of the celebration, how many years and contact name/phone number.
Click Here To Tell Us About Your Celebration


E-Mail News

E - News Registration
 7 a.m. Headlines
9 a.m. Headlines
Noon Headlines
4 p.m. Headlines
8 p.m. Headlines
Breaking News Alerts