Photo by Christina Sturdivant

You can expect more warm weather, Potomac Phil says this Groundhog Day.

With snow still fresh in our minds after last month’s blizzard, forecasting the weather is serious business (just ask local meteorologists). That’s why D.C. residents gathered in Dupont Circle this morning to hear a winter weather prediction from… a stuffed groundhog.

Potomac Phil paid homage to his “brother,” Pennsylvania’s Punxsutawney Phil, by telling District residents whether they could be plagued with six more weeks of school closings, Metro delays, government closures, and hours of TV porn-watching.

Both Potomac and Punxsutawney Phil did not see their shadows this morning, meaning that spring is coming early this year.

“An early spring is fine with me,” said John Callahan, who recently moved to the District from Louisiana—just in time for the snow storm. Callahan saw the crowed of a couple hundred people at the circle on his way to work this morning and stuck around for the annual tradition.

Photo by Aaron DeNu

Now in its fifth year, D.C.’s celebration of Groundhog Day is organized by Dupont Festival founder Aaron DeNu who wanted to introduce the “quirky holiday” to D.C.’s international population, he says.

Guests sipped on coffee and munched on cookies while being serenaded with live music. Kids took part in puppet shows. And Phil received a rabbi’s blessing.

In addition to the weather, the stuffed groundhog also tried his hand at punditry. There will be six more months of political gridlock, announced Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans at the event.