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Punxsutawney Phil predicts early spring for 2nd consecutive year | TribLIVE.com
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Punxsutawney Phil predicts early spring for 2nd consecutive year

Kristy Locklin
Kristy Locklin
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Groundhog Club co-handler John Griffiths holds Punxsutawney Phil, the weather prognosticating groundhog, during the 134th celebration of Groundhog Day on Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pa. Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020. Phil’s handlers said that the groundhog has forecast an early spring.
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Groundhog Club co-handler Al Dereume holds Punxsutawney Phil, the weather prognosticating groundhog, during the 134th celebration of Groundhog Day on Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pa. Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020. Phil’s handlers said that the groundhog has forecast an early spring.
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Groundhog Club co-handlers John Griffiths and Al Dereume hold Punxsutawney Phil, the weather prognosticating groundhog, during the 134th celebration of Groundhog Day on Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pa. Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020. Phil’s handlers said that the groundhog has forecast an early spring.
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Mark Adamski of Sryacuse N.Y., watches the 134th celebration of Groundhog Day on Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pa. Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020.
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Groundhog Club co-handler John Griffiths holds Punxsutawney Phil, the weather prognosticating groundhog, as Vice President Jeff Lundy reads the forecast during the 134th celebration of Groundhog Day on Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pa. Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020. Phil’s handlers said that the groundhog has forecast an early spring.
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The crowd watches the fireworks during the 134th celebration of Groundhog Day on Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pa. Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020. Phil’s handlers said that the groundhog has forecast an early spring.
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The crowd watches the 134th celebration of Groundhog Day on Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pa. Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020. Phil’s handlers said that the groundhog has forecast an early spring.

Pennsylvania’s beloved and world-famous Punxsutawney Phil predicted an early spring Sunday morning after he did not see his shadow.

Phil has only made such a prediction 20 times in the 134-year history of Groundhog Day, according to state officials.

This year marks the first time he has envisioned an early spring two years in a row.

Just after sunrise, Phil, through handlers, declared: “Spring will be early, it’s a certainty.”

As snow fell on Gobbler’s Knob, the prognosticating groundhog broke the good news to a reported crowd of more than 30,000 people.

“Phil — you’re my hero!” a voice echoed above the applause.

Awoken by the crowd’s chants of “Phil!” the groundhog was hoisted in the air for the assembly to hail before making his decision. He then grasped the glove of a handler as a member of his inner circle announced that spring would come early this year.

The crowd cheered after the prediction, raising their hands and high-fiving each other.

Phil Sever drove all the way from North Carolina to the famous Jefferson County borough. Feb. 2 is his birthday.

“I’ve wanted to do this my entire life,” the 30-year-old said.

Even the newly minted Miss Pennsylvania, Victoria Piekut, made the trek from her home in North Huntingdon to celebrate. She’s not the only one with a crown.

Jory Serrian, who, at 36 years old, is the youngest member of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, says the critter is treated like a king; that’s why they wear the fancy duds when they’re in his presence.

Phil gets an annual check-up and eats a steady diet of dandelions, mixed greens, sweet potatoes and bananas. In the wild, groundhogs have a lifespan of about five years.

Ol’ Punxsy Phil is 134.

Legend has it that one annual sip of “the elixir of life” gives him another seven years. Apparently, he hits the bottle pretty hard.

During Prohibition, he threatened to impose 60 more weeks of winter if he wasn’t allowed to drink alcohol.

These days, he’s got his own brand of booze. Wigle Whiskey, a Strip District-based distillery, makes a beverage called Phil’s Shadow. The rye whiskey is aged in maple syrup barrels.

Early-morning imbibers took swigs from a bottle of the stuff as they gathered around a large bonfire at Gobbler’s Knob. Others kept warm by chugging Punxsutawney Philsner, a Penn Brewery lager that’s the only beer officially licensed to carry’s Phil’s name and image.

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Groundhog Club co-handler John Griffiths holds Punxsutawney Phil, the weather prognosticating groundhog, as President Bill Deeley (right) looks on during the 134th celebration of Groundhog Day on Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pa. Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020. Phil’s handlers said that the groundhog has forecast an early spring.

A woman held out her empty cup to a friend.

“Phil me up,” she said with a smile.

The annual event has its origin in a German legend that says if a furry rodent casts a shadow on Feb. 2, winter continues. If not, spring comes early. The event has been known to bring up to 30,000 visitors to Punxsutawney.

“Knowing that the world looks forward to Punxsutawney Phil’s prognostication every year brings joy to our hearts,” said Groundhog Club Inner Circle President Bill Deeley. “At only 22 inches and 20 pounds, Phil might be small, but he is still America’s favorite furry weather forecaster.”

Folks love this furry forecaster, but some are calling for his retirement.

Earlier this week, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sent a letter to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club urging the top hat-wearing gents to send Phil “to a reputable sanctuary and start using a cutting-edge animatronic groundhog that could actually predict the weather using artificial intelligence instead.”

There weren’t any protesters Sunday at Gobbler’s Knob demanding a robotic rodent, just a lot of “phans.”

Kristy Locklin is a contributing writer. The Associated Press contributed to this report

Kristy Locklin is a Tribune-Review contributing writer.

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