Punxsutawney Phil springs into action for Groundhog Day 2011 - in pictures

Jenny Marble waits in the rain at Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney for the world's most famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, to make his annual Groundhog Day prediction Photograph: Jason Cohn/Reuters

A crowd gathers to watch Punxsutawney Phil come out of his burrow during the 125th annual Groundhog Day festivities Photograph: Jeff Swensen/Getty Images

Punxsutawney Phil, the weather-predicting groundhog, is placed on his stump during annual Groundhog Day festivities in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania Photograph: Keith Srakocic/AP

Groundhog Club president Bill Deeley, right, waits for the groundhog to do his stuff as handler John Griffiths, left, looks on Photograph: Keith Srakocic/AP

Punxsutawney Phil gets a better sniff to see which way the wind is blowing Photograph: Keith Srakocic/AP

Punxsutawney Phil is believed to predict an early spring or a long winter depending on whether or not he sees his shadow after emerging on Groundhog Day Photograph: Jeff Swensen/Getty Images

The 125th annual Groundhog Day festivities in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania heard that Phil had opted for an early spring this year Photograph: Jeff Swensen/Getty Images

Under a spectacular sky, a crowd gathers to watch Punxsutawney Phil come out of his burrow during the 125th annual Groundhog Day. Phil did not see his shadow, which means, according to legend, that it will be an early spring Photograph: Jeff Swensen/Getty Images

Groundhog handler Ben Hughes watches over Punxsutawney Phil Photograph: Jeff Swensen/Getty Images