Earlier today, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, marking 6 more weeks of winter. This news may not be as surprising for some, as much of the U.S. continues to face freezing temperatures.
The famed Pennsylvanian rodent was not the only one to share a meteorological prediction. Staten Island Chuck, known for disputing his fellow woodchuck’s prophecies, instead concurred with his colleague Phil, agreeing on an extended winter.
While Georgia’s General Beauregard Lee also saw his shadow, there was far from a consensus in the groundhog community. Notably, Ohio’s Buckeye Chuck and Illinois’ Woodstock Willie predicted a swifter end to cold temperatures, forecasting an early spring.
Using data on groundhogs across the U.S. from 2006-2025, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) found that Staten Island Chuck had the highest accuracy rating of 85 percent. Though it remains to be seen, the New York rodent may prove his track record once again.
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