Groundhog Day 2019: Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow

On Groundhog Day 2019, Punxsutawney Phil could not find his shadow. And as the legend goes, this means we're in for an early spring. 

The Pennsylvania groundhog isn't the only weather-predicting rodent in this quirky American tradition, but he is the most famous. And according to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, his opinion is the only one that matters.

This is only the 19th time out of 123 in his recorded history (there are 10 years where no record remains) that Phil hasn't been able to find his shadow. 

Even so, Phil is usually wrong, and meteorologists aren't too sure Phil's suspicions are right either. 

It's hard to imagine that spring is right around the corner after the polar vortex this past week, but we'll just have to wait and see. 

At least one other prognosticating groundhog disagreed with Phil on Saturday: New Jersey's Milltown Mel predicted a longer winter after reportedly seeing his shadow. Mel has been giving predictions for the past 10 years.

The Groundhog Day shadow legend

The legend goes that if the groundhog sees his shadow on Feb. 2, there will be wintry weather for the next six weeks (just about until the start of spring). If he doesn't see his shadow, that means fairer weather is on the way. 

What happened at Gobbler's Knob this morning?

The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club's Inner Circle — a group that organizes the event and cares for groundhog Phil — brought Punxsutawney Phil out of his den in front of a large crowd as cameras beamed his image around the world.

They reported that Phil communicated in "groundhogese" that he could not find his shadow.  According to legend, that means there will be an early spring.

The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club traces the tradition's roots back to Candlemas Day in Europe – the Christian "festival of lights" that falls on Feb. 2, midway between the start and end of winter.

Contributing: Nick Muscavage, Bridgewater Courier News