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Western Md. Groundhog Predicts 6 More Wintry Weeks

CUMBERLAND, Md. (AP) -- A groundhog in the western Maryland city of Cumberland is predicting six more weeks of winter.

Event organizer Terri Hast says Mountain Maryland Murray saw his shadow Wednesday morning at sunrise.

The groundhog was the star of festivities that began at 6 a.m. with hot chocolate on the downtown pedestrian mall.

According to legend, if the groundhog sees his shadow, he'll return to his burrow for six more weeks of winter.

If he doesn't see his shadow, spring will arrive early.

Meanwhile, the country's most famous groundhog predicted an early spring Wednesday.

Punxsutawney Phil emerged just after dawn on Groundhog Day to make his 125th annual weather forecast in front of a smaller-than-usual crowd in rural Pennsylvania who braved muddy, icy conditions to hear his handlers reveal that he had not seen his shadow.

Including Wednesday's forecast, Phil has seen his shadow 98 times and hasn't seen it just 16 times since 1887, according to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club's Inner Circle, which runs the event. There are no records for the remaining years, though the group has never failed to issue a forecast.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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