Groundhog Prediction Sitting Just Fine With Mount Southington GM

SOUTHINGTON, CT — Chuckles XI, Connecticut's official groundhog, saw his shadow Wednesday at dawn at the Lutz Children's Museum in Manchester and predicted six more weeks of winter, a development that was welcome news to Mount Southington General Manager Jay Dougherty.

Groundhog Day is is day that annually puts snow sports officials on edge. It is rooted in a Pennsylvania Dutch tradition that a groundhog will emerge from its burrow on Feb. 2 to check out the situation. If the groundhog sees his shadow, that means six more weeks of winter are in order.

Chuckles saw his shadow Wednesday — exactly 30.8 miles from Plantsville — and the legendary Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow in Pennsylvania as well.

A longer winter is not necessarily a bad thing for a certain segment of the Nutmeg State, Dougherty said. Mount Southington endured a frustrating weather pattern that left just four trails open through the new year.

Alas, the colder weather showed up this month and the powerful snowmaking system turned the mountain into a winter paradise. Then there was that storm Saturday.

Dougherty said Wednesday he'll gladly take the prediction of Chuckles.

"Six more weeks of winter means six more weeks of family time on the mountain," he said while actually on skis Wednesday morning. "That's six more weeks of opportunity to learn a new sport and six more weeks to celebrate the winter season."

Chuckles seeing his shadow was justice Dougherty said.

"With the late start to out winter, I'm happy to see the groundhog is in agreement to extending the winter fun."
See more on the Lutz Groundhog Day Ceremony here.

On Wednesday morning, Mount Southington had all 14 trails open and six of seven lifts with base depth of 2 feet-plus. See more on the conditions here.