ThePope
02-02-2009, 07:48 AM
Phil forecasts six more weeks of winter weather
By The Associated Press
Monday, February 2, 2009
PUNXSUTAWNEY — The world's most famous groundhog has seen his shadow which, legend has it, means we can expect six more weeks of winter.
Punxsutawney Phil's forecast was announced in front of thousands of revelers gathered at Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, about 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.
They gathered under overcast skies with temperatures hovering around the freezing mark this morning, with many revelers buoyed by the Super Bowl victory by the Pittsburgh Steelers last night.
German tradition holds that if a hibernating animal cast 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 1887, Phil has seen his shadow 97 times, hasn't seen it 15 times, and there are no records for nine years, according to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club.
Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/breaking/s_609873.html
By The Associated Press
Monday, February 2, 2009
PUNXSUTAWNEY — The world's most famous groundhog has seen his shadow which, legend has it, means we can expect six more weeks of winter.
Punxsutawney Phil's forecast was announced in front of thousands of revelers gathered at Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, about 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.
They gathered under overcast skies with temperatures hovering around the freezing mark this morning, with many revelers buoyed by the Super Bowl victory by the Pittsburgh Steelers last night.
German tradition holds that if a hibernating animal cast 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 1887, Phil has seen his shadow 97 times, hasn't seen it 15 times, and there are no records for nine years, according to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club.
Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/breaking/s_609873.html