WASHINGTON — While hundreds gathered in rural Pennsylvania for Punxsutawney Phil’s annual weather prediction, his lesser-known, somewhat lesser-animated cousin had his own ceremony in D.C.’s Dupont Circle.
Bad news, everyone: Potomac Phil saw his shadow on Saturday morning, meaning six more weeks of winter.
Unlike Punxsutawney Phil, Potomac is a stuffed groundhog — “taxidermy is a dying art,” its Twitter page said on Saturday. But like his more animated cousin, D.C.’s own Phil has throngs of adoring fans willing to brave the cold for a hand in the festivities.
The far more lively Punxsutawney Phil, meanwhile, didn’t see his shadow up north — setting the stage for months of groundhog gridlock.
Punxsutawney Phil could not be reached for comment.
A close up of Potomac Phil, who is forever calm eating his corncob. pic.twitter.com/x3BlPl1li9
— Matt Blitz (@WhyBlitz) February 2, 2019
WTOP’s Melissa Howell contributed to this report.
