According to Georgia’s groundhog, we have six more weeks of winter, which is real bad news for a lot of us.

This news hits especially hard since Groundhog General Beauregard Lee, has a reputation for being extremely accurate, with estimates ranging from about 60% to around 80–90% accuracy (depending on who you ask).

While I don’t want to doubt Groundhog General Lee, I thought I might consult the experts and here’s what I found.

 

How long will winter actually last?

Experts say:

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts another blast of Arctic air through the middle of February, suggesting that the weather will be colder than normal for the next few weeks.

Accuweather gives a little bit of hope for those of us wishing for warmer temps. It seems like there will be a shift toward more weather.

According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, Georgia should start seeing more moderate, spring‑like temperatures by mid to late March, with a notably warmer pattern taking hold by April.

 

What to expect in the coming weeks

Expect to be cold, at least for a while. For most of central Georgia, that means more frosty mornings and jacket-weather afternoons.

However, Spring is on the way. The Old Farmer’s Almanac says we could start to see spring-like temperatures by mid-March with more consistent warmer weather by April.

 

For March:

  • Gradual warmup
  • More days creeping into the 60s
  • A few cooler snaps still mixed in
  • Temperatures near to slightly above normal
  • Mix of rainy systems and dry breaks
  • Less constant cold rain

For April:

  • Noticeably warmer than average
  • Many days feeling more spring‑like
  • Only brief cool downs
  • Warmer and drier than usual
  • Below‑normal rainfall
  • With some passing thunderstorms

As it turns out, Groundhog General Beauregard Lee is just as accurate as the experts, and we can all just settle in for another long stretch of cold weather.

How are you faring in the cold weather? Are you ready for it to be over or are you happy to ride it out for the next six weeks? Email me at srose@ledger-enquirer.com or find me on social media.

This story comes to GPB through a reporting partnership with Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. 

Tags: Georgia  winter  Groundhog Day