Monique Robinson
wmal.com
WASHINGTON — Groundhogs around the region are forecasting frigid temperatures, and arctic air for six more weeks.
Friday morning, people gathered around the nation dressed in top-hats in hopes that a groundhog will emerge from the ground, see its shadow and bring back the warmer days of Spring.
Larry Loudoun of Loudoun County and Potomac Phil of the District saw their shadows.
According to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, Larry is the “not-yet famous rodent from Round Hill, Virginia.”
Larry Loudoun saw his shadow, predicting 6 more weeks of winter. Reports say he emerged at 7:18 a.m. & cast his shadow on the hillside. Larry lives at a secret location in Round Hill on the property of retired LCSO Deputy Terry McCracken & his wife Sarah #GroundhogDay pic.twitter.com/fYXNd87Zt2
— Loudoun Co. Sheriff (@LoudounSheriff) February 2, 2018
In the District, people gathered around dressed in groundhog paraphernalia, anchoring signs like “Draft Phil for Shadow Representative” and “In Phil We Trust” and waving American flags. All of the joy and excitement soon changed once the DuPont Festival President Aaron DeNu announced Potomac Phil had saw his shadow. Crowd members sighed and mildly boo-ed the results.
The 132-year-old tradition is rooted in the shadows of Pennsylvania’s Punxsutawney Phil but, there are dozens of groundhogs observed across the nation for winter guidance.
Copyright 2018 by WMAL.com. All Rights Reserved. (Photo: DuPont Festival/ Facebook)
