Groundhog Day 2026: GA's Official Spring Forecast Revealed

JACKSON, GA — There will be six more weeks of winter in Georgia, according to the state's official weather prognosticator, Gen. Beauregard Lee.

Lee saw his shadow Monday, Groundhog Day, according to the Dauset Trails Nature Center.

Housed at the Jackson center, Lee has made his 45th declaration much to the dismay of Georgians who have endured an ice cold, snowy January.

Residents looking to feel a reprieve from the harsh winter conditions will have to wait for spring if Lee's forecast holds true.

His prediction coincided with that of Punxsutawney Phil, who also forecasted six more weeks of winter.

Lee was originally housed at the Yellow River Wildlife Sanctuary in Gwinnett County, WAGA-TV previously reported. His lineage in weather predictions on Groundhog Day stretch back to 1981, according to the outlet.

Groundhog Day is observed on Feb. 2 because the Christian holiday of Candlemas Day was traditionally celebrated then. On that day, Christians would take their candles to the church to be blessed to bring good fortune to their households for the rest of winter.

Germans expanded on the concept by selecting a hedgehog as a way of predicting weather for the rest of winter. Yes, it was strange.

German settlers in Pennsylvania continued the tradition but switched to groundhogs, which are numerous in the state.