Move Over Punxsutawney Phil, Here Comes Georgia's 'Beau'

By Scott Bernarde

Move over Punxsutawney Phil, Georgia’s own General Beau Lee doesn’t need any help predicting the weather.

He’s been doing it for more than 30 years — every Groundhog Day at the Yellow River Game Ranch in Lilburn, Ga.

And while his Pennsylvania cousin may be more famous, Beau has his own list of accolades.

Previous Beau Predictions
Groundhog Day 2014: Did Lilburn’s Beau Predict an Early Spring?
Gen. Beau Lee Says It’s Going To Be a Long Winter (2013)
Georgia’s Groundhog Gen. Beauregard Lee Predicts Early Spring (2012)

He’s been on the Today Show, commended for his accuracy by the National Weather Service and research by Politifact Georgia even suggested he’s more accurate than Phil.

So when Beau and Punxsutawney Phil emerge from their burrows after sunrise on Monday Feb. 2, it’ll be their time to shine when they tell us how much longer we’ll need to put up with winter.

As forklore has it, if the groundhog sees a shadow, winter will last another month and a half. If no shadow, then an early spring.

Last year, the groundhogs disagreed with their prognostications.

Beau called for an early spring, but Punxsutawney Phil predicted six more weeks of winter.

Beau’s 2014 prediction will be warmly welcomed again Monday during the Yellow River Game Ranch’s annual Groundhog Day celebration in Lilburn, which attracts hundreds of visitors each year to Beau’s “Weathering Heights” mansion inside the game ranch.

He is expected to emerge from his mansion around 7:15 a.m. Monday. Visitors are admitted free between 7 and 8 a.m.

Last year, Beau came out at 7:33 a.m., according to the game ranch.

The Yellow River Game Ranch is on Stone Mountain Highway in Lilburn. Get more info here.