Pennsylvaniasa国际传媒檚 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 Clubsa国际传媒檚 Inner Circle reveal Philsa国际传媒檚 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, Philsa国际传媒檚 prediction is decided ahead of time by the group on Gobblersa国际传媒檚 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 groundhogsa国际传媒檚 prediction is typically contained in a short poem.

sa国际传媒淯p early this morning. Far from home. Are you searching for the Phil-osophersa国际传媒檚 stone? Well, even my best friends, they donsa国际传媒檛 know. Is it an early spring or just more snow,sa国际传媒� the proclamation read. sa国际传媒淢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!sa国际传媒�

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

The Associated Press

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