Punxsutawney Phil predicts 6 more weeks of winter, Arizona shrugs

PHOENIX — If Pennsylvania’s most famous groundhog was in Arizona for the winter, he would be sitting by the pool, sighing in contentment.

Instead, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow at dawn Friday, forecasting six more weeks of winter. At least in other parts of the country.

For anyone living in metro Phoenix, they were feeling record highs in the month of January. The first weekend of February was going to keep the 80s streak going.

If you like temperatures in the 80s, you'll like this forecast. Way above normal high temperatures continue. #80sinFebruary #azwx #cawx pic.twitter.com/LALrADb9Lh

— NWS Phoenix (@NWSPhoenix) February 2, 2018

Up and down the state it’s been the same — unseasonably warm.

Temps will be near record highs again today. A couple more new records possible this #GroundhogDay2018. #azwx pic.twitter.com/DA4bFYSu3h

— NWS Flagstaff (@NWSFlagstaff) February 2, 2018

Preliminary January temperature and rainfall rankings across southeast Arizona. #azwx pic.twitter.com/MYNmEnjoYJ

— NWS Tucson (@NWSTucson) February 1, 2018

But in the Midwest and East, what Phil says goes.

His top hat-wearing buddies in the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club’s Inner Circle brought the message to winterized America from Gobbler’s Knob, a tiny hill just outside Punxsutawney, about 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.

Phil’s prediction was decided ahead of time by the club but thousands of people gathered overnight to await the forecast, bundled up against the cold and entertained by folk music and a fireworks display, with temperatures around 11 degrees.

Jackie and Jimmy Wilson watch a fireworks display during the 132nd Groundhog Day on Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pa. Friday, Feb. 2, 2018. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

The groundhog’s prediction is typically contained in a short poem.

“Up early this morning. Far from home. Are you searching for the Phil-osopher’s stone? Well, even my best friends, they don’t know. Is it an early spring or just more snow,” the proclamation read.

“My faithful followers, your hands (and my paws) are getting cold so here is my forecast. Not lead, but solid gold: I see my royal Shadow! Six more weeks of Winter to go!”

Records dating to 1887 show Phil has predicted more winter 103 times while forecasting an early spring just 18 times — including last year.

There were no records for the remaining years.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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