Birmingham Jill Predicts 6 More Weeks Of Winter

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Winter in 2021 will extend six week, according to the Birmingham Zoo's opossum, Birmingham Jill. The zoo held its annual Groundhog Day event at 10 a.m. Tuesday with Birmingham Jill filling in for Birmingham Bill, the groundhog.

Birmingham Jill, via a live streaming on Facebook, saw her shadow and "informed" zookeepers of the extended winter in Birmingham.

The Birmingham Zoo began its Groundhog Day tradition in 1990, but for the last four years, the zoo has had a stand-in for Birmingham Bill. The zoo's owls last year assumed the duties of predicting when spring will arrive in the Magic City.

The first official Groundhog Day celebration took place on February 2, 1887, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. It was created by local newspaper editor Clymer Freas, who sold a group of businessmen and groundhog hunters on the idea.

Punxsutawney Phil, perhaps the country's most famous groundhog, predicted a longer winter earlier Tuesday morning. Phil seeing his shadow was not unexpected. According to Punxsutawney Groundhog Club records, the groundhog has predicted an early spring just 20 times.