Buckeye Chuck, Ohio's official weather-predicting groundhog,[1] resided in Marion, Ohio, US, until June 2023 and has resided at the Cleveland Museum of Natural HistoryinCleveland since then.[2] He is one of two whistlepigs (another name for groundhogs) in Ohio known for predicting the arrival of spring on Groundhog Day (February 2). A native of Ohio, Chuck began predicting the arrival of spring in the 1970s.[3] In addition, the Ohio General Assembly declared Buckeye Chuck the official State Groundhog in 1979.[4] However, from 2006 to 2015, Chuck's forecast was correct only twice.[5]
According to the legend of Groundhog Day, the groundhog's behavior is a way of forecasting the weather. If the groundhog pops out from its burrow, sees his shadow, and then disappears again, it will mean that winter is to continue for six more weeks. But if the groundhog does not see its shadow, then it will not be scared to come out of its burrow and winter will soon end.
| Year | Prediction |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Early spring[6] |
| 2023 | 6 more weeks of winter |
| 2022 | Early spring |
| 2021 | Early spring |
| 2020 | Early spring |
| 2019 | Early spring |
| 2018 | 6 more weeks of winter |
| 2017 | 6 more weeks of winter |
| 2016 | 6 more weeks of winter[7] |
| 2015 | Early spring[8] |
| 2014 | Early spring[9] |
| 2013 | Early spring[10] |
| 2012 | Early spring[11] |
| 2011 | Early spring[12] |
| 2010 | Early spring[13] |
| 2009 | 6 more weeks of winter[14] |
| 2008 | Early spring[5] |
| 2007 | Early spring[5] |
| 2006 | 6 more weeks of winter[5] |
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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