Here's what different groundhogs across New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania predicted about how long winter will linger.
Is it safe to pack away those snow shovels until next winter?
Well, if you believe the folklore that surrounds Punxsutawney Phil and Essex Ed, you'll need your winter gear for six more weeks, because they each saw their shadow Thursday morning on Groundhog Day 2017.
But other groundhogs taking part in this longtime tradition, including Milltown Mel and Malverne Mel, did not see their shadow, so folklore holds that winter will be short and spring will arrive early.
What real forecasters say about this winter
Here's a rodent roundup of the predictions made by furry forecasters from towns across New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania -- with the results certified by men in top hats.
- Dunkirk Dave (New York): Long winter
- Essex Ed (New Jersey): Long winter
- Holtsville Hal (New York): Long winter
- Malverne Mel (New York): Early spring
- Milltown Mel (New Jersey): Early spring
- Punxsutawney Phil (Pennsylvania): Long winter
- Staten Island Chuck (New York): Early spring
- Stonewall Jackson V (New Jersey): Early spring
Groundhog predictions from other states:
- Buckeye Chuck (Ohio): Long winter
- Chattanooga Chuck (Tennessee): Early spring
- Chesapeake Chuck (Virginia): Early spring
- French Creek Freddie (West Virginia): Long winter
- General Beauregard Lee (Georgia): Early spring
- Sir Walter Wally (North Carolina): Early spring
- Woodburn Wild Charles Winchester (Indiana): Long winter
By the way, Essex Ed did not oversleep this year. On Groundhog Day 2016, the resident groundhog at the Essex County Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange missed his big event and had to be replaced by a hedgehog.
In addition to predicting a long winter Thursday morning, Essex Ed weighed in on Super Bowl 2017, predicting that the Atlanta Falcons would defeat the New England Patriots in Sunday's big game.
Other critters weigh in
Groundhogs aren't the only creatures predicting the weather these days. Down in Cumberland County, at the Cohanzick Zoo in Bridgeton, three coatimundis (which look like raccoons) are calling for six more weeks of winter.
If you're wondering what human forecasters think about how long winter will last, here's a look at their weather predictions for February and March.
Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @LensReality or like him on Facebook. Find NJ.com on Facebook.