Phil did not see his shadow during the annual Feb. 2 Groundhog Day ritual Saturday, CNN reported. Some residents of the groundhog's hometown, Punxsutawney, Pa., interpret that to mean warmer weather will soon arrive.

Phil's more urban cousin, Staten Island Chuck, agreed with that forecast. He didn't see his shadow either at his man cave at the Staten Island Zoo.

Lots of less prescient Americans may have been hoping for such an optimistic forecast. Unseasonably high temperatures in recent weeks have seesawed with extreme lows, causing folks to alternate between shorts and T-shirts to heavy coats and gloves.