Punxsutawney Phil says an early spring is coming
/ Courtesy: AP
SOUTHERN COLORADO -- Punxsutawney Phil, the famous groundhog who looks for his shadow every Feb. 2, gave southern Colorado some much needed good news after a three-day stretch of arctic and low temperatures that have flirted with records.
Phil did not see his shadow when emerging from his burrow on Gobbler's Knob in the town of Punxsutawney, Pa, according to the Groundhog Day Club's Inner Circle.
Legend has it that if the groundhog sees its shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. If not, spring will come early. The myth is rooted in German legend, which suggests if a hibernating animal sees its shadow Feb. 2, the Christian holiday of Candlemas (winter) will last another six weeks.
The event usually draws about 10,000-15,000 people, according to the Associated Press, but the crowd was smaller than usual Wednesday, likely because of the weather.
In southern Colorado, residents have been hit with a wave of frigid air that dropped temperatures below zero in many places for Tuesday and Wednesday. Wind chills got below -40 degrees in some areas, and the streak of nights below zero is one of the longest in Colorado history.
While the early spring fortune may be a relief for many southern Coloradans, Phil didn't actually say he was doing it for Colorado. In fact, Phil doesn't even see the shadow. His handlers and members of the Inner Circle decide the forecast in advance, and wear tuxedos and top hats for the announcement when Phil emerges.
Phil's announcement comes just in time. Many parts of southern Colorado will warm up by 30 degrees or more Thursday, with expected highs stretching into the 40s by Friday and Saturday.
However, our meteorologists said what goes up must come down. By Sunday temperatures will begin to drop again, though likely not as cold as what many southern Coloradans experienced this week. There is also a chance of snowfall when those temperatures drop.
Phil is brave for coming outside in the snowy, icy Pennsylvania conditions. Groundhog Club spokesman Luke Webber said the area was under a winter weather warning and while heavier snows and sleet never materialized, rain was falling in about 35 degree temperatures.
Until the sub-zero air is gone, make sure your pets don't go outside to duplicate his prediction. Humane Society officials said having pets outside in this type of weather is very dangerous and could be deadly.
Since 1887, Phil has seen his shadow 98 times and hasn't seen it just 16 times. The missing years are unaccounted for, though Phil has made 125 total predictions.
The Associated Press contributed to this story
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