Groundhog Day 2021: GA's Gen. Beauregard Lee Makes Prediction

GEORGIA — Georgia's own groundhog Gen. Beauregard Lee made his prediction Tuesday morning that the state will see an early spring.

A Twitter account dedicated to the rodent said on Monday that Lee will not be hosting his annual celebration on Tuesday, instead electing for a private event. Lee lives in Jackson, Georgia, at Dauset Trails.

His social media handler was quick to tweet out his decision early Tuesday: an early spring.

As they often do, Lee disputed the more well-known Punxsutawney Phil, who did saw his shadow this year, predicting six more weeks of winter.

America's most famous rodent made his annual appearance Tuesday morning, emerging from his Gobbler's Knob burrow in an unusually isolated setting because of the coronavirus outbreak. The event usually attracts thousands of people to this tiny town about 80 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.

Legend has it if the furry forecaster sees his shadow, winter continues for six more weeks; if he doesn't see his shadow, spring arrives early.

This marks the 135th time Phil attempted to show meteorological mettle. The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club credits The Punxsutawney Spirit newspaper with printing the first observance in 1886; the first trip to Gobbler's Knob occurred the following year.

Phil seeing his shadow was not unexpected. According to Punxsutawney Groundhog Club records, the groundhog has predicted an early spring just 20 times.

See more: Groundhog Day 2021: Punxsutawney Phil Delivers Forecast

While we won't know for sure if Phil or Lee are correct until a few weeks from now, the weather forecast for Georgia this week includes a wind advisory but mostly sunny skies.

Tuesday afternoon

Sunny, with a high near 43. Northwest wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Tuesday night

Mostly clear, with a low around 27. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Wednesday

Sunny, with a high near 47. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Wednesday night

Mostly clear, with a low around 28. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.

Thursday

Partly sunny, with a high near 55. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.

Thursday night

Showers likely. Cloudy, with a low around 44. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

Friday

A 50 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 54.

Friday night

A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35.

Saturday

A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 51.

Saturday night

A chance of rain showers before 1 a.m., then a chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.

Sunday

A slight chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 44. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Sunday night

Mostly clear, with a low around 19.

Monday

Sunny, with a high near 41.

Patch Editor Eric Heyl contributed to this article.