Punxsutawney Phil Doesn't See Shadow, Early Spring on the Way

PUNXSUTAWNEY - It doesn't happen very often, but it looks like an early spring may be on the way, at least according to Punxsutawney Phil.

The Seer of Seers and Prognosticator of Prognosticators was coaxed from his burrow at 7:38 a.m. Friday by his new handler and Clearfield native Ben Hughes. Punxsutawney Phil then selected a scroll that predicted an early spring.

While Phil did not speak of other topics than weather as has been a usual event for many years, he did hit upon recent extreme weather in his prediction.


The scroll read by the Inner Circle of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club stated:

El Nino has caused high winds, heavy snow, ice and freezing temperatures in the west.
Here in the East with much mild winter weather we have been blessed.

Global warming has caused a great debate.
This mild winter makes it seem just great.

On this Groundhog Day we think of one thing.
Will we have winter or will we have spring?

On Gobbler's Knob I see no shadow today.
I predict that early spring is on the way.

With cold temperatures expected for much of Clearfield County through next week, it looks as though most people will have to wait a little while to see the early spring.

That fact did not appear to matter much to those on Gobbler's Knob Friday. The prediction was met with cheers and applause from a crowd that the Inner Circle said was one of the largest on record.