Groundhog Day Comes Early in Western New York, Where Buffalo Bert Predicts Six More Weeks of Winter

Groundhog Day may be one of the strangest holidays in America. On the second day of February, we pull a rodent in Pennsylvania from his slumber, and whether or not he "sees" his shadow supposedly determines whether or not the whole country will have another six weeks of winter.

While Punxsutawney Phil is still sleeping his days away as the official holiday approaches, a groundhog in Buffalo, New York has already beat him to the forecast, predicting six more weeks of winter.

Western New York's annual event went virtual for this year's celebration on Saturday, sharing live footage on the Buffalo Groundhog Day Facebook page. The ceremony primarily took place at Flying Bison Brewing Company, where Buffalo Bert, a groundhog at Hawk Creek Wildlife Center in East Aurora, made his grand appearance from his barrel.

After cheering and much anticipation, Buffalo Bert was met with a lot of groans after he determined that we're in for six more weeks of winter.

"Six more weeks of winter is okay," Buffalo Groundhog Day President Adam Hernandez said. "We always have six more weeks of winter in Buffalo, but it's all good because we're tough. We can deal with it!"

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Just days after Buffalo Bert's prediction, it's certainly feeling like winter as Upstate New York braces for a nor'easter that is expected to bring up to a foot of snow in Central New York.