Each year on Feb. 2, since 1887, thousands have climbed up Gobblers Knob in Punxsutawney, located in North Central Pennsylvania, for the daybreak weather prediction of Punxsutawney Phil, a groundhog.

    If Phil sees his shadow legend has it six more weeks of winter weather can be expected. No shadow means an early spring.

    The 124th trek to Gobblers Knob was scheduled to begin at 2 a.m. CST today with Phil’s official prediction, shared by his handlers, to take place at sunrise, 6:45 a.m. CST.

    In Alaska today is Marmot Day.

    Former Gov. Sarah Palin signed a bill last year to make every Feb. 2 Marmot Day in Alaska.

    The bill was introduced by Sen. Linda Menard, a Wasilla Republican.

    Because there are no groundhogs in Alaska, Menard says it made sense for the ground squirrel to become Alaska’s version of Punxsutawney Phil.

    Menard’s bill didn’t give marmots any weather forecasting duties, but she hopes the state will create educational activities around the animal.

DID YOU KNOW?

    Here are some fun facts about Groundhog Day and

Punxsutawney Phil:

    • The first trek to Gobbler’s Knob took place in 1887, but earlier

observances of the groundhog’s predictions were conducted in private wooded areas. Today Phil makes his prediction in front of tens of thousands of visitors and a global audience through the international press.

    • During prohibition Phil threatened to impose 60 weeks of winter on the community if he wasn’t permitted a drink.

    • In 1981 Phil wore a yellow ribbon in honor of the American hostages in Iran.

    • Phil traveled to Washington, D.C. in 1986 to visit President Reagan.

    • Phil debuted on “Oprah” in 1995.

    • Phil is a Pittsburgh Steelers fan. He sported a Terrible Towel in 2009

to celebrate the team’s sixth Super Bowl victory.