Buzz
Punxsutawney Phil is set to make his 135th weather prediction from Gobbler’s Knob, located in the hills northeast of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. On February 2, Phil will predict either an early spring or six more weeks of winter based on whether or not he sees his shadow.
The origins of Phil’s tale, along with that of other groundhogs attempting to fill his shoes, may trace back to Candlemas, an ancient Christian tradition where clergy would bless and distribute candles to forecast the length and weather of the upcoming winter. Over time, the candles were swapped for hedgehogs, and eventually, groundhogs. Some believe the tradition takes place on February 2 because it falls roughly midway between winter and spring.
Another explanation points to Groundhog Day’s roots in a custom where hedgehogs emerging from their burrows on February 2 to catch insects signified an early spring. Regardless of the origins, Groundhog Day celebrations predate the 1993 film Groundhog Day, where Bill Murray relives the same day over and over until he finally gets it right.
Despite Punxsutawney Phil’s accuracy rate being just under 40%, and meteorologists getting it right up to 90% of the time, it’s fascinating how much significance has been attached to the forecasts of this particular rodent.
10. Buckeye Chuck
Over 40 years ago, a disc jockey in Marion, a town in central Ohio, described a groundhog "staring back at him." A subsequent competition to name the rodent, who resides in Green Camp, Ohio, when not serving as a weather forecaster, gave rise to the name Buckeye Chuck. The winner of the contest came up with the name.
By the late 1970s, Buckeye Chuck became Ohio’s official weather-predicting groundhog. Today, he shares his forecast with the same radio station that helped him gain fame years ago. Afterward, the station announces the prediction while listeners enjoy hot chocolate and sandwiches. As of his 2020 prediction, Buckeye Chuck boasted an impressive success rate of 67%.
9. Chattanooga Chuck
In 2009, the Tennessee Aquarium welcomed Chattanooga Chuck, a groundhog adopted from a licensed wildlife breeder. His first weather prediction took place the following February, and he quickly became a star, making appearances on shows that highlighted his abilities. When he wasn't forecasting the weather, Chattanooga Chuck educated millions of viewers about rodents like himself.
Sadly, Chattanooga Chuck passed away in 2019, just months before entering his second decade of weather predictions. He lived to the age of 10, which is considerably longer than the typical six years a wild groundhog might live, but still a bit shorter than the 14 years those in captivity can sometimes reach. As of now, it seems a replacement for Chattanooga Chuck has not yet been found.
8. Concord Charlie
Since 1978, Concord Charlie has been forecasting the length of winter. This all began when a university staff member in West Virginia decided to turn a groundhog into a weather predictor. Today, the rodent shares his prediction via cellphone or tweet, engaging in a conversation with the university's president, who then announces the forecast.
After sharing his forecast, Concord Charlie typically retreats from the limelight, shifting the focus to the university and individuals who have positively influenced life and culture in West Virginia. This includes figures such as football coaches, elected officials, and writers.
7. General Beauregard Lee
When February 2 rolls around, most groundhogs are still deep in hibernation, but not the ones on our list. Take General Beauregard Lee, for example, who has been predicting winter weather for over 40 years. He originally lived at the Yellow River Game Ranch in Lilburn, Georgia, but now calls Dauset Trails Nature Center in Jackson, Georgia, his home.
General Beauregard Lee is lured from his slumber with hash browns from a popular restaurant chain in Georgia. According to a 2020 update, he boasts an impressive 94% accuracy rate, although he sometimes consults his distant relative, Chopper, the mascot of the Atlanta Braves AAA team, to help with at least one of his predictions. No word on whether they share the hash browns when that happens…
6. Jimmy the Groundhog
The tradition of Jimmy the Groundhog forecasting the weather in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, began in 1948 during the state’s 100th-anniversary celebrations. The site was chosen because the groundhog is said to see his shadow when the sun rises over the prairie.
Over the years, Jimmy the Groundhog has inspired changes to birth certificates, drinks, and even a stuffed-toy groundhog wedding. He also made headlines not just for his meteorological skills, but also when he bit the mayor of Sun Prairie’s ear on camera. While his accuracy in predicting the arrival of spring has been described as "extremely high," it’s unclear how the town’s decision to retire the wooden statue memorializing him might affect his prediction record. Perhaps biting the mayor wasn't the best move!
5. Mount Joy Minnie
Mount Joy Minnie is quite a unique figure in the world of weather forecasting. For one, she is among the few female groundhogs who showcase their weather prediction talents. Moreover, she is a puppet, residing in southcentral Pennsylvania, where her home is a tree stump built from chicken wire and papier-mâché—far removed from the typical forested edges, meadows, and streams that most groundhogs call home.
Since making her first weather forecast in 2008, Mount Joy Minnie has earned an impressive 80% accuracy rate. She has also made a remarkable recovery after a mob, upset by her prediction of six more weeks of winter, “drowned and lynched” her.
4. Octoraro Orphie
This groundhog, whose caretakers have celebrated Groundhog Day for over 100 years, lives near Octoraro Creek in Quarryville, Pennsylvania. Since 1908, he has missed only two Groundhog Days—once due to World War II and the second time because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Those attending the annual event gather to watch the groundhog holes near Octoraro Creek for several hours, eagerly awaiting Octoraro Orphie’s weather prediction, which they receive at a nearby lodge. On February 2, 2020, Octoraro Orphie was given extra responsibilities, as the Super Bowl was being played the same day. He was asked to predict the weather in Miami for the game (a task that was, unsurprisingly, easy) and to pick the winners (we assume he went with the AFC).
3. Wiarton Willie
This year, Wiarton Willie, a groundhog from southwestern Ontario, Canada, is set to make his 66th weather prediction. The town's annual celebration has been marred by controversy over the years. For instance, reports indicate that Wiarton Willie passed away from a tooth abscess shortly before the 2021 ceremony, though local officials kept the news a secret for several months.
In a particularly unusual event, two decades earlier, another Wiarton Willie tragically froze to death just before his big day. Rather than canceling the ceremony, officials proceeded with a funeral for the late groundhog, using a stuffed replica for the event instead of the one that had passed away. Let’s hope things go more smoothly this year!
2. Unadilla Bill
Taxidermied Unadilla Bill received his name after a former Nebraska lieutenant governor named Bill also declared Unadilla as the Groundhog Capital of the state in 1988. That was the same year Bill began his career as a weather forecaster.
Recently, Unadilla Bill has entered retirement after spending many years in the spotlight. If you're wondering how a stuffed groundhog could be so weary (as we were), it's worth mentioning that, in addition to his forecasting duties, he often led the annual Groundhog Day parade in Unadilla while perched on the hood of a car. His successor, Unadilla Billie, is set to make her first prediction this year.
1. Shubenacadie Sam
Shubenacadie Sam, whose name is pronounced “Shoo-ben-ack-a-dee,” takes the latter part of his name from a park in Nova Scotia, Canada, where he resides. Like most groundhogs, Sam follows a vegetarian diet, but he also enjoys practicing yoga and meditation. Living in the far eastern part of Canada, Sam holds the distinction of being the first groundhog in North America to make a weather prediction each February 2, which may explain his approximate 45% accuracy rate.
