Move over Punxsutawney Phil because when it comes to weather, the Buckeye State turns to one rodent for their forecast.
"This is Buckeye Chuck. It is Groundhog Day all across the world," says iHeartMedia Program Director, Paul James.
Buckeye Chuck is Ohio's official forecasting groundhog, who resides in Marion, Ohio.
James says, "Back in 1979, the Ohio Legislature actually named Chuck as Ohio's official groundhog."
The old wives tale says that if the groundhog sees his shadow, he gets scared and goes back into his hole for six more weeks of winter.
If he does not see his shadow, that means spring will come early.
What did Buckeye Chuck decide for these next six weeks?
iHeartMedia Morning Show Host, Jeff Ruth made the official call.
"It’s 7:41 A.M. in Marion, Ohio, USA on Candlemas Day. It's Groundhog Day. February 2, 2019, with the snow flurries coming down and with four inches of snow on the ground. The skies are mostly cloudy so, therefore, Buckeye Chuck, Ohio's official weather reporting groundhog does not see his shadow proclaiming spring in Ohio is just around the corner," Ruth said to a crowd of several hundred people.
So spring is closer than we thought it would be, especially after having record-breaking temperatures last week due to the polar vortex.
"Spring's right around the corner. Thank goodness," 10th grader Morgan Dutton said with relief after hearing Chuck’s forecast.
City of Marion Mayor, Scott Schertzer says, "Based on the past week that we had here in the Midwest, I think everybody is going to be extremely happy that spring is just around the corner."
Marion residents say they still enjoy coming out to see what Chuck has to say, even those years when it's not the forecast they hoped for.
Dutton says, "It's an event that everyone likes to come to and it just brings everyone together into town."
Marion resident, Nissa Stump says, "It's super exciting. I mean who doesn't like to get up at 5 AM and come see a groundhog get ready to predict the future of the spring?"
When Chuck is questioned about his forecasting skills, Mayor Schertzer says, "Buckeye Chuck is the most accurate weather prognosticator that this country has ever seen."
