Pennsylvania鈥檚 most famous groundhog foresees no early end to winter.

The handlers of Punxsutawney Phil said the furry rodent has called for six more weeks of winter after seeing his shadow at dawn Friday.

The top hat-wearing members of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club鈥檚 Inner Circle reveal Phil鈥檚 forecast every Feb. 2. It is based on a German legend surrounding Candlemas. The legend says if a furry rodent casts a shadow that day, winter continues. If not, spring comes early.

In reality, Phil鈥檚 prediction is decided ahead of time by the group on Gobbler鈥檚 Knob, a tiny hill just outside Punxsutawney about 65 miles (about 100 kilometres) northeast of Pittsburgh.

Thousands of people gathered overnight to await the forecast, bundled up against the cold and entertained by folk music and a fireworks display, with temperatures around 11 degrees (minus-12 Celsius).

The groundhog鈥檚 prediction is typically contained in a short poem.

鈥淯p early this morning. Far from home. Are you searching for the Phil-osopher鈥檚 stone? Well, even my best friends, they don鈥檛 know. Is it an early spring or just more snow,鈥� the proclamation read. 鈥淢y faithful followers, your hands (and my paws) are getting cold so here is my forecast. Not lead, but solid gold: I see my royal Shadow! Six more weeks of Winter to go!鈥�

Records dating to 1887 show Phil has now predicted more winter 103 times while forecasting an early spring just 18 times 鈥� including last year. There are no records for the remaining years.

The Associated Press

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