NOAA Study Ranks Groundhogs For Weather-Predicting Accuracy

Posted: January 31, 2025 at 9:52 am

How good are groundhogs at predicting the weather? An unusual study by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration analyzed which rodent was most accurate in forecasting the onset of spring. This Sunday, Groundhog Day, you might want to pay more attention to Staten Island Chuck’s prediction, as he is accurate 85% of the time. Georgia’s General Beauregard Lee comes in second place with an 80% accuracy rating. Rodents aren’t the only lucky guessers: a Wyoming Prairie Dog statue called Lander Lil is right 75% of the time. The most famous of them all, Pennsylvania’s Punxsutawney Phil, has a 35% accuracy rating.