Georgia Groundhog Day General Beauregard Lee prediction live stream

JACKSON, Georgia — Georgia’s own — some might say more accurate — meteorological groundhog has made his call for Groundhog Day, and it may not quite be what everyone was hoping.

It’s six more weeks of winter, according to General Beauregard Lee (“Beau” for short).

According to NOAA tracking, Beau is actually much more accurate than his famed northern counterpart Punxsutawney Phil. Beau’s accuracy sits at 80%. 

RELATED: Early spring or more winter? Georgia’s groundhog makes the call this weekend

On Sunday morning, Beau emerged at the Dauset Trails Nature Center in Jackson and saw his shadow, foretelling six more weeks of winter. Last year, Beau declared an early spring.

“Don’t kill the messenger!” Beau’s handlers joked Sunday.

The folks at Dauset Trails read a proclamation from Beau that said in part:

“I love pool parties and swimming and getting a tan, but I also love ice fishing, hot chocolate and making a snowman. We’ve had snow from here to the beach, it’s been an interesting winter for this Georgia peach… I know you’re ready for warmth and cheer, but you’ve got to hang on just a little longer my dear. I’m not joking, or kidding, or making a bluff — six more weeks of the wintry stuff. This prediction I make with my little paw — six more weeks of winter, for my shadow I saw.”

This now is where we caution that meteorologists are always more accurate than groundhogs. Groundhog Day should be used for entertainment purposes only.

General Beauregard Lee lived at the Yellow River Game Ranch in Gwinnett County for more than 25 years until the ranch suddenly shut down in 2017.

Dauset Trails Director, Ike English told 11Alive sister station WMAZ back in 2020 that Waffle House hash browns and Indian Springs water is what has kept the south’s “Doctor of Southern Groundology” predicting the weather for 39 years.

Beau used to live in Gwinnett County at the Yellow River Game Ranch, where he stayed more than 25 years before that ranch suddenly shut down in 2017. 

His name is drawn from Confederate history — in reference to Generals P.G.T. Beauregard and Robert E. Lee.