Everyone knows just who the world famous Punxsutawney Phil is. He’s the weather predicting groundhog from Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, who has been forecasting the end of winter for over 120 years. This year Phil says we’re in for six more weeks of suffering. However, and I did not know this, Phil has competition! There are other groundhogs that predict the weather!
In addition to Phil, there’s also Buckeye Chuck, Staten Island Chuck, General Beau Lee of Georgia, Sir Walter Wally of North Carolina, and Michigan’s Woody. No doubt there are also a ton of others who also predict the weather based on various groundhog-related magical abilities. I knew hedgehogs were evil, but I didn’t know groundhogs also practiced the dark arts.
Granted, the weather around the country varies, as Phil, Sir Walter, and Buckeye Chuck both see six more weeks of winter. Meanwhile, Staten Island Chuck, Woody, and General Lee all see spring ahead. Your mileage, based on your favorite member of the family Marmota, may vary.
I don’t put any stock in groundhog weather forecasts myself. I’m a believer in the old ways. I guess my weather predictions based on goat entrails and good old-fashioned voodoo.
Tags: Groundhog Day, Punxsutawney Phil, Sir Walter Wally, Buckeye Chuck, Staten Island Chuck, General Beauregard Lee, Woody, weather prediction, folk tales