Not that we San Franciscans should be complaining about crappy winter weather when the east coast was hit with three snowstorms in one week and Chicago now looks like this, but today is Groundhog Day (why do we even still follow this weird custom?) and Punxsutawney Phil did not see his own shadow, which means spring should be coming earlier this year!

Tell that to the thousands of people suffering through snow piles and ice sheets – they need some good weather news.

The tradition is that if the groundhog sees his shadow and retreats then winter will go on for another 6 weeks, however, if the little rodent does not see his shadow it is said that spring will come early(ish).

According to Wikipedia, “The holiday, which began as a Pennsylvania German custom in southeastern and central Pennsylvania in the 18th and 19th centuries, has its origins in ancient European weather lore….”

• Tag: Groundhog Day, snow, spring, weather, winter