Groundhog Day 2023: Punxsutawney Phil predicts six more weeks of winter

Pennsylvania’s most famous groundhog came out of his burrow on a frigid Thursday morning to see his shadow, announcing that there were six more weeks of winter. Punxsutawney Phil makes his prediction deadly storm Wreak havoc in the south while the northeast braces for a dangerous arctic explosion.

Crowds gathered at Gobbler’s Knob on Thursday as members of Punxsutawney Phil’s “inner circle” summoned him from his tree stump at dawn to find out if he saw his own shadow – they said he did. According to folklore, if he sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. If he doesn’t, spring will come early.

The “inner circle” is a group of local dignitaries who plan events and feed and care for Phil himself.

Punxsutawney’s annual event has its roots in German legends about furry rodents. Community officials, about 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, welcomed thousands of people to this year’s festivities.

Based on records dating back to 1887, Phil has predicted winter more than 100 times. Organizers said that ten years passed because there were no records.

this 2022 Forecast Asking for another six weeks of winter, like a year ago.

While Punxsutawney Phil may be the most famous groundhog sore, he’s certainly not the only one. Chuck of the Staten Island Zoo in New York City made his early spring predictions Thursday at an event at the Staten Island Zoo.

Phil and Chuck put their forecast as a deadly storm system whipped a big slice Rain and snow fell for the third day in a row in the southern United States on Wednesday. The storm grounded more than 3,300 flights, left hundreds of thousands without power, forced schools to close and made already dangerous driving conditions worse.

At least eight people in Texas have died from the weather, according to data obtained by CBS News Wednesday.