Groundhog Day 2011 (Photos): Punxsutawney Phil Predicts Early Spring on Groundhog Day

After surveying his surroundings and finding no shadow on an early Groundhog Day morning, Punxsutawney Phil, the weather-prognosticating rodent (yes, groundhogs are rodents!), predicted the arrival of an early spring.

According to American folklore, if the weather is sunny when Phil emerges from his temporary burrow erected at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pa., he will see his shadow and go back into his burrow, indicating that winter will continue for six more weeks. But if it is cloudy, the groundhog will leave the burrow, signifying an early spring.

Check out these photos from the Groundhog Day event in Punxsutawney, Pa. on Wednesday.

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Captions and Credits

1: Groundhog handler Ben Hughes watches Punxsutawney Phil after he did not see his shadow predicting an early spring, during the 125th annual Groundhog Day festivities on Feb. 2 in Punxsutawney, Pa. Phil came out and did not see his shadow predicting an early spring. Groundhog Day is a popular tradition in the United States and Canada. A smaller than usual crowd this year of less than 15,000 people spent a night of revelry awaiting the sunrise and the groundhog’s exit from his winter den. (Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)

2: A crowd gathers to watch Punxsutawney Phil come out of his burrow during the 125th annual Groundhog Day festivities on Feb. 2 in Punxsutawney, Pa. (Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)

3: Groundhog handler John Griffiths (2nd from right) holds Punxsutawney Phil while members of the Inner Circle read the proclamation after Phil did not see his shadow predicting an early spring, during the 125th annual Groundhog Day festivities on Feb. 2 in Punxsutawney, Pa. (Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)

4: Groundhog handler Ben Hughes watches Punxsutawney Phil after he did not see his shadow predicting an early spring during the 125th annual Groundhog Day festivities on Feb. 2 in Punxsutawney, Pa. (Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)

5: A crowd gathers to watch Punxsutawney Phil come out of his burrow during the 125th annual Groundhog Day festivities on Feb. 2 in Punxsutawney, Pa. (Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)

6: Groundhog handler Ben Hughes watches Punxsutawney Phil after he did not see his shadow predicting an early spring, during the 125th annual Groundhog Day festivities on Feb. 2 in Punxsutawney, Pa. (Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)

7: A crowd gathers to watch Punxsutawney Phil come out of his burrow during the 125th annual Groundhog Day festivities on Feb. 2 in Punxsutawney, Pa. (Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)