Georgia's General Beauregard Lee predicts an early spring

At the Dauset Trails Nature Center in Jackson this morning, Georgia's General Beauregard Lee predicted an early spring for the fifth year running.

Caption

Groundhog Day revelers gather at the Dauset Trails Nature Center on Feb. 2, 2024 to watch General Beauregard Lee's annual prediction.

Credit: Butts County Chamber of Commerce / Facebook

The prognosticator emerged from a miniature antebellum mansion festooned with garlands of corn, pork sausage and Waffle House hash browns and did not see his shadow.

The 16-pound groundhog is the pride of Butts County: his 60%+ accuracy record is bushels better than Pennsylvania's Punxsutawney Phil's 30%.

Since 1982, Beauregard Lee has predicted an early spring every year but three: in 2013, 2018 and 2019. 

So it was no surprise on this sunny Georgia morning that he signaled warm weather in the weeks ahead. 

Atmospheric heating contributes to spring storms, though, and the National Weather Service has designated Feb. 5 to 9 as Georgia Severe Weather Preparedness Week.