Sir Walter Wally does not see his shadow - early spring!
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- North Carolina's famous prognosticating groundhog Sir Walter Wally contradicted Pennsylvania's Punxsutawney Phil Thursday and called for an early end to winter.
He did not see his shadow at noon outside Raleigh's North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. Over the past 20 years, he's been right about 55 percent of the time.
A German legend has it that if a furry rodent sees his shadow on Feb. 2 winter will last another six weeks. If not, spring comes early.
In Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, the handlers of Pennsylvania's most famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, said the furry rodent has "predicted" six more weeks of winter after seeing his shadow at dawn Thursday.
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Punxsutawney Groundhog Club's Inner Circle read the proclamation on Gobbler's Knob, a tiny hill just outside Punxsutawney about 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.
Records dating to 1887 show Phil has predicted more winter 102 times, while forecasting an early spring just 18 times. There are no records for the remaining years.
Tuesday's celebration was billed as the 130th forecast by Phil.
A number of other prognosticating groundhogs sided with Phil on the extended forecast.
The handlers for Staten Island Chuck in New York, General Beauregard Lee in Georgia and Jimmy the Groundhog in Wisconsin said the rodents predicted an early spring.
But, others didn't agree. In Michigan, handlers of Woody the Woodchuck said she predicted six more weeks of winter. The same went for Ohio's Buckeye Chuck.
And in Canada, two four-legged forecasters split the decision. Nova Scotia's Shubenacadie Sam called for an early spring, while Ontario's Wiarton Willie expected six more weeks of winter.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
