Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney
Punxsutawney Phil, America’s most famous groundhog, made his prediction this morning for how long winter will last. The verdict? He reportedly did not see his shadow, meaning an early spring is in store.
- Groundhog Punxsutawney Phil climbs on the top hat of his handler after Phil did not see his shadow and predicting an early spring during the 127th Groundhog Day Celebration at Gobbler’s Knob on February 2, 2013 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The Punxsutawney ‘Inner Circle’ claimed that there were about 35,000 people gathered at the event to watch Phil’s annual forecast. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
- A crowd waits for the Punxsutawney Phil to come out from his winter den during the 127th Groundhog Day Celebration at Gobbler’s Knob on February 2, 2013 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The Punxsutawney ‘Inner Circle’ claimed that there were about 35,000 people gathered at the event to watch Phil’s annual forecast. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
- President Bill Deeley (R) of Punxsutawney’s ‘Inner Circle’ tap on the door of Punxsutawney Phil’s burrow as he and groundhog co-handlers John Griffiths (2nd R) and Ron Ploucha (3rd L) entice Phil out during the 127th Groundhog Day Celebration at Gobbler’s Knob on February 2, 2013 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The Punxsutawney ‘Inner Circle’ claimed that there were about 35,000 people gathered at the event to watch Phil’s annual forecast. Phil did not see his shadow and predicting an early spring. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
- A crowd waits for the Punxsutawney Phil to come out from his winter den during the 127th Groundhog Day Celebration at Gobbler’s Knob on February 2, 2013 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The Punxsutawney ‘Inner Circle’ claimed that there were about 35,000 people gathered at the event to watch Phil’s annual forecast. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
- Punxsutawney Phil climbs on the shoulder of groundhog co-handler John Griffiths (R) after Phil did not see his shadow and predicting an early spring during the 127th Groundhog Day Celebration at Gobbler’s Knob on February 2, 2013 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The Punxsutawney ‘Inner Circle’ claimed that there were about 35,000 people gathered at the event to watch Phil’s annual forecast. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
- A man waits for the Punxsutawney Phil to come out from his winter den during the 127th Groundhog Day Celebration at Gobbler’s Knob on February 2, 2013 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The Punxsutawney ‘Inner Circle’ claimed that there were about 35,000 people gathered at the event to watch Phil’s annual forecast. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
- A groundhog handler waits for bringing the Punxsutawney Phil out from his winter den during the 127th Groundhog Day Celebration at Gobbler’s Knob on February 2, 2013 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The Punxsutawney ‘Inner Circle’ claimed that there were about 35,000 people gathered at the event to watch Phil’s annual forecast. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
- Fireworks are seen during the 127th Groundhog Day Celebration at Gobbler’s Knob on February 2, 2013 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The Punxsutawney ‘Inner Circle’ claimed that there were about 35,000 people gathered at the event to watch Phil’s annual forecast. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
- Groundhog co-handler John Griffiths (R) holds up Punxsutawney Phil as co-handler Ron Ploucha (3rd L) looks on after Phil didn’t see his shadow and predicting an early spring during the 127th Groundhog Day Celebration at Gobbler’s Knob on February 2, 2013 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The Punxsutawney ‘Inner Circle’ claimed that there were about 35,000 people gathered at the event to watch Phil’s annual forecast. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
- Groundhog co-handler John Griffiths holds up groundhog Punxsutawney Phil before Phil’s annual weather prediction on Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, on the 127th Groundhog Day, February 2, 2013. Phil did not see his shadow signaling an early end to winter. REUTERS/Jason Cohn
- Groundhog Club President Bill Deeley listens to Punxsutawney Phil’s annual weather prediction on Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, on the 127th Groundhog Day, February 2, 2013. Phil did not see his shadow signaling an early end to winter. REUTERS/Jason Cohn
- Groundhog co-handler Ron Ploucha (right) holds Punxsutawney Phil as the Groundhog Club’s Bob Roberts (L) reads the famous groundhog’s annual weather prediction on Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, on the 127th Groundhog Day, February 2, 2013. Phil did not see his shadow signaling an early end to winter. REUTERS/Jason Cohn
- Groundhog handler Ben Hughes watches Punxsutawney Phil after he did not see his shadow predicting an early spring during the 125th annual Groundhog Day festivities on February 2, 2011 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Groundhog Day is a popular tradition in the United States and Canada. A smaller than usual crowd this year of less than 15,000 people spent a night of revelry awaiting the sunrise and the groundhog’s exit from his winter den. If Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow he regards it as an omen of six more weeks of bad weather and returns to his den. Early spring arrives if he does not see his shadow causing Phil to remain above ground. (Photo by Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)
- Groundhog co-handler Ron Ploucha (right) holds Punxsutawney Phil as ‘His Protector’ Bob Roberts (3rd L) reads out the proclamation after Phil didn’t see his shadow and predicting an early spring during the 127th Groundhog Day Celebration at Gobbler’s Knob on February 2, 2013 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The Punxsutawney ‘Inner Circle’ claimed that there were about 35,000 people gathered at the event to watch Phil’s annual forecast. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
- Groundhog co-handler Ron Ploucha holds famed weather prognosticating groundhog Punxsutawney Phil as he prepares to make his annual prediction on Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, on the 127th Groundhog Day, February 2, 2013. Phil did not see his shadow signaling an early end to winter. REUTERS/Jason Cohn
- Groundhog co-handler Ron Ploucha holds Punxsutawney Phil in front of a record crowd estimated at 35,000 after Phil’s annual weather prediction on Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, on the 127th Groundhog Day, February 2, 2013. Phil did not see his shadow signaling an early end to winter. REUTERS/Jason Cohn
- Groundhog co-handler Ron Ploucha (2nd L) holds Punxsutawney Phil after Phil didn’t see his shadow and predicting an early spring during the 127th Groundhog Day Celebration at Gobbler’s Knob on February 2, 2013 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The Punxsutawney ‘Inner Circle’ claimed that there were about 35,000 people gathered at the event to watch Phil’s annual forecast. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
- Famed weather prognosticating groundhog Punxsutawney Phil has only one eye open as he prepares to make his annual prediction on Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, on the 127th Groundhog Day, February 2, 2013. An early spring was predicted as Phil did not see his shadow. REUTERS/Jason Cohn
- Punxsutawney Phil climbs on the top hat of groundhog co-handler John Griffiths (R) as co-handler Ron Ploucha (L) looks on after Phil didn’t see his shadow and predicting an early spring during the 127th Groundhog Day Celebration at Gobbler’s Knob on February 2, 2013 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The Punxsutawney ‘Inner Circle’ claimed that there were about 35,000 people gathered at the event to watch Phil’s annual forecast. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
- Punxsutawney Phil climbs on the shoulder of groundhog co-handler John Griffiths after Phil didn’t see his shadow and predicting an early spring during the 127th Groundhog Day Celebration at Gobbler’s Knob on February 2, 2013 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The Punxsutawney ‘Inner Circle’ claimed that there were about 35,000 people gathered at the event to watch Phil’s annual forecast. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
- Groundhog co-handler Ron Ploucha reacts after hearing famed weather prognosticating groundhog Punxsutawney Phil’s annual prediction on Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, on the 127th Groundhog Day, February 2, 2013. An early spring was predicted as Phil did not see his shadow. REUTERS/Jason Cohn
- Groundhog co-handler John Griffiths (left) holds Punxsutawney Phil as co-handler Ron Ploucha (R) looks on after Phil didnt see his shadow and predicting an early spring during the 127th Groundhog Day Celebration at Gobbler’s Knob on February 2, 2013 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The Punxsutawney ‘Inner Circle’ claimed that about 35,000 people gathered at the event to watch Phil’s annual forecast. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
- Jason Grusky, also known as The Big Chill and a member of the Inner Circle of the Groundhog Club, wears a thermometer showing the current low temperatures on the 127th Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, February 2, 2013, as crowds wait for the weather-prognosticating groundhog Punxsutawney Phil on Gobbler’s Knob. (Jason Cohn/REUTERS)
- A woman stands next to a fire to keep herself warm during the 127th Groundhog Day Celebration at Gobbler’s Knob on February 2, 2013 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Thousands of people gathered at the event to watch Phil’s annual forecast. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
- Katie Wolf of South Bound Brook, New Jersey waits for the weather-prognosticating groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, to make his annual prediction on Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, on the 127th Groundhog Day February 2, 2013. (Jason Cohn/Reuters)
- Big Chill’ Jason Grusky, a member of the Punxsutawney ‘Inner Circle,’ gestures during the 127th Groundhog Day Celebration at Gobbler’s Knob on February 2, 2013 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Thousands of people gathered at the event to watch Punxsutawney Phil’s annual forecast. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
- Hank Oxendine (R) of Pottstown, Pennsylvania, waits with his fiance Jennifer Caruso (L) for the Punxsutawney Phil to come out from his winter den during the 127th Groundhog Day Celebration at Gobbler’s Knob on February 2, 2013 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Thousands of people gathered at the event to watch Punxsutawney Phil’s annual forecast. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
- A crowd surround a fire to keep themselves warm during the 127th Groundhog Day Celebration at Gobblers Knob on February 2, 2013 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Thousands of people gathered at the event to watch Phil’s annual forecast. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
- Fred Ungar (left) of York, Pennsylvania and Barry Edwards of Lancaster, Pennsylvania joke around while waiting for the weather-prognosticating groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, to make his annual prediction on Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, on the 127th Groundhog Day February 2, 2013. (Jason Cohn/Reuters)
- Pam Markin of Dallas, Texas, waits for Punxsutawney Phil to come out from his winter den during the 127th Groundhog Day Celebration at Gobbler’s Knob on February 2, 2013 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Thousands of people gathered at the event to watch Punxsutawney Phil’s annual forecast. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
- Jon Lovitch of the Bronx, New York waits in the cold for the weather-prognosticating groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, to make his annual prediction on Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, on the 127th Groundhog Day February 2, 2013. (Reuters/Jason Cohn)
- Mayor John Close listens to Wiarton Willie during Groundhog Day celebrations in Wiarton, Ontario, February 2, 2013. Willie did not see his shadow signaling an early spring. REUTERS/Geoff Robins
- Mayor John Close listens to Wiarton Willie during Groundhog Day celebrations in Wiarton, Ontario, February 2, 2013. Willie did not see his shadow signaling an early spring. REUTERS/Geoff Robins