Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, predicts six more weeks of winter

PUNXSUTAWNY, PA -- Today is February 2, and the handlers of Pennsylvania's most famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, said Monday the furry rodent has forecast six more weeks of winter.

Unfortunately (or fortunately, for winter weather fans), Punxsutawney Phil, the seer of seers prognosticator of prognosticators weather predictor extraordinaire, climbed out of his home on Gobbler's Knob and saw his shadow. That means you can expect another six weeks of winter.

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!"

If Phil hadn't seen his shadow, then warmer temperatures and an early spring would have been on the way.

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.

Of course, Phil hasn't been the most accurate groundhog over the years. Data from NOAA shows he's only been right 39% of the time.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.