Happy Groundhog Day everyone! In the time honored tradition of waking the groundhog in the wee hours on February 2nd each year, Punxsutawney Phil peeked outside, then quickly scarpered back into his home, bringing forth 6 weeks of further wintery weather.

A centerdaily.com article reads:

The world’s most famous weather prognosticating groundhog was roused from his burrow at 7:23 a.m. Thursday and saw his shadow, a sign that there’ll be six more weeks of winter.And though the crowds booed, it didn’t deter many who were dressed in black and gold and swirling Pittsburgh Steelers Terrible Towels in the air in anticipation of Sunday’s Super Bowl.

Phil even got in on the impromptu Steelers pep rally, with his handler Bill Deeley draping a Terrible Towel over him as he emerged. Earlier, members of the groudhog’s famed Inner Circle threw the trademark towels at the crowds as they sang “Here we go Steelers.”

But even though Phil’s handlers left no doubt about their allegiance on the gridiron, Phil didn’t make a prediction about the outcome of the game.
Many of the hundreds in attendance had waited outside for hours in 30-degree weather, much warmer than in years past when temperatures traditionally have been only in the teens.

“This is just a ball. I’m having so much fun,” said Nancy Durr, of Paxton, Neb., who came to Gobbler’s Knob at about 2:15 a.m. Durr, who had rub-on Punxsutawney Phil tattoos on each of her cheeks, came with her six brothers and sisters to celebrate her 50th birthday.

“I just always wanted to spend my birthday here,” she said.
Each Feb. 2, thousands of people descend on Punxsutawney, a town of about 6,100 people located about 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, for a little midwinter revelry, celebrating what had essentially been a German superstition.
The Germans believed that if a hibernating animal casts a shadow Feb. 2 - the Christian holiday of Candlemas - winter will last another six weeks. If no shadow is seen, legend says spring will come early.

Don’t put your coats away just yet folks, I feel snow a-coming our way… remember last February? Brrrrr…