There will be six more weeks of winter in the US and “one of the most beautiful and brightest springs you’ve ever seen,” according to famed weather prognosticator Punxsutawney Phil, who made his predication after performing his annual Groundhog Day duties on Tuesday.

Despite the pandemic, members of Phil’s “inner circle” woke up the furry critter at 7:25 a.m. in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to see whether he would see his shadow or not. The lore goes that if he sees his shadow as he did this year, there will be six more weeks of winter. If he doesn’t, spring comes early.

A member of Phil’s “inner circle” noted the uniqueness of the past year, stating, “People have been referencing Groundhog Day. It has felt like at times we’re all living the same day over and over again. Groundhog Day also shows us that the monotony ends. The cycle will be broken.”

The spectacle, which has been held each Feb. 2 since 1887 at Gobbler’s Knob, a tiny hill just outside Punxsutawney about 105 km northeast of Pittsburgh, still went on, but because of the coronavirus pandemic, revelers weren’t able to see Phil and celebrate in person: This year, it was all virtual and included cardboard cut-outs to represent spectators.

A livestream, which had more than 15,000 viewers at one point, played footage from previous Groundhog Day’s ahead of the big reveal.

The annual event has its origin in a German legend about a furry rodent. Records dating to the late 1800s show Phil has predicted longer winters more than 100 times.

Meanwhile in Canada…

In welcome news for Canadians, Ontario’s Wiarton Willie differed with his American counterpart, tweeting that he could not see his shadow yesterday. “Well folks, my prediction is official,” the groundhog said, “an early spring is around the corner.”