Groundhog Day: Punxsutawney Phil makes bold weather call

It’s Groundhog Day … again! Handlers for Pennsylvania’s most famous prognosticating groundhog have some good news for those Americans battling the polar vortex.

Groundhog Club co-handler Al Dereume, right, holds Punxsutawney Phil, the weather prognosticating groundhog, during the 133rd celebration of Groundhog Day on Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney. Picture: AP

It may be hard to believe as a large swath of the US thaws out from a bitter polar vortex, but spring is coming early, according to handlers for some of the country’s most famous prognosticating groundhogs.

Just before 7:30am (11:30pm AEDT) Saturday, Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his burrow in Pennsylvania at sunrise and didn’t see his shadow.

Detail view on the door of Punxsutawney Phill's hutch before ceremonies for Groundhog Day. Picture: Getty

Nearly the same series of events unfolded about 483 kilometres to the east, where Staten Island Chuck’s handlers also revealed the same prediction.

The festivities have their origin in a German legend that says if a furry rodent casts a shadow on February 2, winter continues. If not, spring comes early.

Groundhog Club co-handler John Griffiths, left, holds Punxsutawney Phil, the weather prognosticating groundhog, during the 133rd celebration of Groundhog Day on Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney. Picture: AP

In reality, Phil’s prediction is decided ahead of time by the group on Gobbler’s Knob, a tiny hill just outside Punxsutawney.

That’s about 105 kilometres northeast of Pittsburgh.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio stopped attending Staten Island’s Groundhog Day ceremony in 2015, a year after he accidentally dropped the furry critter that died a week later.

Punxsutawney Phil is held up by his handler for the crowd to see during the ceremonies for Groundhog day in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Picture: Getty

And he wasn’t the only New York City mayor who struggled with the holiday. Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg was bit at a Groundhog Day ceremony in 2009.