Punxsutawney Phil predicts six more weeks of winter at Groundhog Day festivities – in pictures

Punxsutawney Groundhog Club's Inner Circle members, who actually decide the verdict ahead of time, listen to the reading of Phil's weather forecast Photograph: David Maxwell/EPA

Groundhog Club handler Ron Ploucha holds the prognosticating groundhog during his big day in the spotlight Photograph: Gene J Puskar/AP

Shirley Moffatand and Joanne Alexander, of Pittsburgh, were among the 15,000 to 18,000 spectators who attended the ceremony Photograph: Jeff Swensen/Getty Images

A groundhog supporter eagerly awaits the verdict Photograph: Jason Cohn/Reuters

Treg Wentling and Shirley Wentling, draped in (groundhog?) fur, dance in celebration after Punxatawney Phil emerged from his lair Photograph: Jeff Swensen/Getty Images

Punxsutawney Phil is interviewed by news media after his annual duty Photograph: Jeff Swensen/Getty Images

Al Donst, of Belvidere, New Jersey, wears an even more inventive groundog hat Photograph: Jason Cohn/Reuters

Aww.. it's famed weather prognosticating groundhog Punxsutawney Phil! He looks tuckered out from all the attention Photograph: Jason Cohn/Reuters

Groundhog handler John Griffiths and Punxsutawney Phil horsing around Photograph: Jeff Swensen/Getty Images

Children take a look at Potomac Phil, a taxidermied groundhog, during the first annual Dupont Circle Groundhog Day celebration in Washington Photograph: Karen Bleier/AFP/Getty Images