America's most famous groundhog has predicted that an early spring is on the way as Sky celebrated the annual event in its usual style, by showing the eponymous film on loop non-stop.
Members of Punxsutawney Phil's top hat-wearing inner circle revealed their forecast at sunrise on Saturday.
The festivities in Pensylvania have their origin in a German legend that says if a furry rodent casts a shadow on Feb. 2, winter continues.
If not, as was the case this year, spring comes early.
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 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.
A member of Phil's Inner Circle announced: "Faithful followers, there is no shadow of me and a beautiful spring it shall be."
Meanwhile, bosses at Sky decided to celebrate the day by showing the Bill Murray classic non-stop all day.
Viewers shared their delight at seeing the comedy hit being played all day long.
One person wrote online: "The Sky Cinema Comedy Channel is showing Groundhog Day all day. This never fails to tickle me."
Another posted: "Well played, Sky. Nothing but Groundhog Day all day."
