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figcaption class=”caption” caption–main caption–img” itemprop=”description”> What is he thinking? Photograph: Brett Carlsen/Getty Images

The handlers of Punxsutawney Phil said the furry rodent has predicted six more weeks of winter after seeing his shadow at dawn on Friday.

The top hat-wearing members of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Clubs Inner Circle reveal Phils forecast every 2 February. It is based on a German legend surrounding Candlemas. The legend says if a furry rodent casts a shadow that day, winter continues. If not, spring comes early.

In reality, Phils prediction is decided ahead of time by the group on Gobblers Knob, a tiny hill just outside Punxsutawney about 65 miles (about 100km) north-east of Pittsburgh.

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 11F (-12C).

The groundhogs prediction is typically contained in a short poem.

Up early this morning. Far from home. Are you searching for the Phil-osophers stone? Well, even my best friends, they dont 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 now predicted more winter 103 times while forecasting an early spring just 18 times including last year. There are no records for the remaining years.