Groundhog Day: Phil predicts six more weeks of winter

In keeping with tradition for yet another year, Punxsutawney Phil once again gave us a preview of how long winter will last. Neighbors gathered Thursday in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to hear the furry creature's verdict.

The ruling is as follows: there will be six more weeks of winter. According to the popular tale, if the groundhog sees his shadow there will be six more weeks of winter. Otherwise, spring will come early. Punxsutawney's 'inner circle' met followers at sunrise at Gobbler's Knob, next to the tree where the groundhog lives. Phil saw his shadow, which means that spring won't come early this year.

The so-called 'inner circle' is a group of local dignitaries who are in charge of planning events, as well as feeding and caring for Phil. Groundhog Day, celebrated in Punxsutawney, about 105 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, originated from a German legend about a furry rodent. The event attracts thousands of people to the town every year.

According to records that date back to 1887, Phil has predicted six more weeks of winter more than 100 times. Groundhog Day is strongly linked to the film Groundhog Day, starring Bill Murray as Phil, a TV network weatherman sent to Punxsutawney for another year to cover the Groundhog Day festival. On the return trip, Phil and his team are caught in a storm that forces them to return to the small town. He gets stuck in a time loop where every day is Groundhog Day.

This time, it looks like we'll be stuck in winter for at least six more weeks.