It'll Be 6 More Weeks Of Winter According To Woody, Punxsutawney Phil

HOWELL (WWJ) - We can expect six more weeks of winter according to Punxsutawney Phil on this Groundhog's Day.

But, what is the groundhog at the Howell Nature Center predicting? The executive director of the Howell Nature Center, Dick Grant says the two groundhogs appear to be in sync.

Before a crowd of about 150 people, Woody the Woodchuck, made her prediction:

"When we opened the door ... she looked out at the crowd and stood there, like the house beside the road and said ... 'I'm not going to come out,' it's going to be six more weeks of winter," said Grant.

Grant says Woody is pretty accurate:

"She's about 75 percent correct, which is great, compared to only 50 percent for Phil out in Pennsylvania."

Woody has also predicted that the Denver Broncos will win, by going to food by a picture of Denver quarterback Peyton Manning.

So far, she's six for eight on Super Bowl picks.

Groundhog Day is a popular tradition in the United States and Canada. A smaller than usual crowd this year of less than 25,000 people spent a night of revelry awaiting the sunrise and the groundhog's exit from his winter den.

If Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow he regards it as an omen of six more weeks of bad weather and returns to his den. Early spring arrives if he does not see his shadow, causing Phil to remain above ground.