Phil, the famous rodent meteorologist from Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, emerged this Friday from the lair where he hibernated. Hundreds of celebrants, gathered before dawn on Gobbler's Knob Hill, cheered and applauded when at 07:22 (12:22 GMT), the ritual's officiants read the message that Phil supposedly chose.
Since the tradition began in 1887 this is only the twentieth time that the groundhog has not seen its shadow. According to legend, when there is enough sunlight for the animal to see its shadow, winter is six weeks away.