The US and Canada celebrate a bizarre tradition on February 2 called Groundhog Day, where a small furry rodent apparently predicts the weather.
The 130-year-old custom dictates that if Punxsutawney Phil the groundhog emerges from his hole and sees its shadow against the sunny weather, it will retreat back to its den in a move that signifies winter will last a further six weeks.
But if there are cloudy skies when the groundhog – a rodent from the marmota squirrel family – comes above ground – meaning the spring season will arrive early.
Spectators at Gobblers Knob park shivered under cloudy skies with cold temperatures near 17 degrees Fahrenheit (-8.3 °C) early on Friday morning, according to the National Weather Service (NWS), as they waited for Phil’s appearance.
And it’s more bad news for those hoping for a sunny start to spring, as Phil saw his shadow so winter is due to stick around for another six week.s
Where is Punxsutawney in Pennsylvania?
Thousands gathered in the town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to witness a groundhog named “Phil” make his annual prediction on how long the North American winter will last.
The town is located about 80 miles (120 km) northeast of Pittsburgh, and southeast from Lake Erie.
It is also some 191 miles from Niagara Falls, which is located on the Canada-USA border.
Thousands of people flock to Punxsutawney every year for the annual tradition.
For those who are unable to watch the event in the flesh, a live stream is available so there’s no need to fear you could be missing out on all the groundhog fun.
The folklore gained international recognition in 1993 when it was immortalised on screen in a film of the same name starring Bill Murray and Andie McDowell.
And following the film’s success, Groundhog Day events have popped up all over America.
But the event in Punxsutawney remains the biggest of them all.