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General Beauregard Lee

{{Short description|Name of groundhog in Georgia, USA}}

File:19-03-080-dauset.jpg]]

General Beauregard Lee is a groundhog in the US state of Georgia widely considered to be the Groundhog Day weather prognosticator for the Southern United States.{{cite news |last1=King |first1=Michael |title=Groundhogs give conflicting forecasts for coming spring |url=https://www.11alive.com/article/life/animals/groundhogs-give-conflicting-forecasts/85-4e73b08a-39ff-4e6f-a31d-1e642ed88b08 |access-date=27 January 2021 |work=11Alive |publisher=WXIA-TV |date=2 February 2020}}

The previous forecaster before General Beauregard Lee was General Robert E. Lee, who started making predictions in 1981.{{cite news |last= Morris|first= Mike|date= 2 February 2000|title= Hog's call: Spring's just around the corner|work= The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|location= Atlanta, Georgia}} He was named after the American Confederate General of the same name. General Beauregard Lee's first nationally televised appearance was in 1988.{{cite news |last1=Hanes |first1=Elizabeth |title=Beyond Punxsutawney: Meet the Other Groundhogs |url=https://www.history.com/news/beyond-punxsutawney-meet-the-other-groundhogs |access-date=27 January 2021 |work=HISTORY |date=30 January 2019}} General Beauregard Lee resided at Yellow River Game Ranch in Gwinnett County, Georgia for 27 years until the ranch suddenly closed in December 2017.{{cite news |last1=Coyne |first1=Amanda C. |title=Gwinnett's weather-predicting groundhog will be relocated...but where? |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/local/gwinnett-weather-predicting-groundhog-will-relocated-but-where/eGoLQvWDTUIUl99VAYzh1N/ |access-date=27 January 2021 |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=26 December 2017}} He was then relocated to Dauset Trails Nature Center in Jackson, Georgia, to carry on his weather-predicting tradition.{{cite news |title=GA groundhog Gen. Beauregard Lee moves to new home |url=https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/ga-groundhog-gen-beauregard-lee-moves-to-new-home |access-date=27 January 2021 |work=FOX 5 Atlanta |date=10 January 2018}}

In 2025, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration calculated General Lee to be more accurate than Punxsutawney Phil, boasting an 80% accurate rate compared to Phil's 35%.https://www.noaa.gov/heritage/stories/grading-groundhogs The groundhog-sized ante-bellum style mansion that General Lee lives in is known as Weathering Heights.{{cite news |last= Lameiras|first= Maria M. |date= 2 February 1998|title= Spring's just around the bend: General does not see shadow |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |location= Atlanta, Georgia|access-date=}}

Past predictions

class="wikitable"

|+ General Lee's predictions

colspan="10" |
| style="background: grey;" |1981

| style="background: gold;" |1982{{cite news |author= |date= 3 February 1982|title= Groundhogs Can't Agree On Predictons|work= The Atlanta Constitution|location= Atlanta, Georgia}}

| style="background: gold;" |1983{{cite news |last= Emerson|first= Bo |date= 3 February 1983|title= Famous Yankee groundhog and Gen. Lee agree on spring|work= The Atlanta Constitution|location= Atlanta, Georgia}}

| style="background: gold;" |1984{{cite news |author= |date= 3 February 1984|title= Georgia's own groundhog predicts an early spring|work= The Atlanta Constitution|location= Atlanta, Georgia}}

| style="background: gold;" |1985{{cite news |last= Newby|first= Debbie |date= 3 February 1985|title= In South, Yankee groundhog overshadowed by Gen. Lee|work= The Atlanta Constitution|location= Atlanta, Georgia}}

| style="background: gold;" |1986{{cite news |last= Baum|first= Dan |date= 3 February 1986|title= It's warm weather, but winter's not over yet |work= The Atlanta Constitution|location= Atlanta, Georgia}}

| style="background: gold;" |1987{{cite news |last= Salter|first= Charles |date= 3 February 1987|title= Epidemic of spring fever likely Tuesday|work= The Atlanta Constitution|location= Atlanta, Georgia}}

| style="background: gold;" |1988{{cite news |last= Robinson|first= Scott |date= 3 February 1988|title= Lee predicts early spring|work= The Atlanta Constitution|location= Atlanta, Georgia}}

| style="background: gold;" |1989{{cite news |last= Taylor|first= Ron |date= 3 February 1989|title= Georgia's General Lee Predicts an Early Spring|work= The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|location= Atlanta, Georgia}}

style="background: gold;" |1990{{cite news |last= Morris|first= Mike |date= 3 February 1990|title= Groundhogs have meeting of minds--spring is close |work= The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|location= Atlanta, Georgia}}

| style="background: gold;" |1991{{cite news |author= |date= 3 February 1991|title= Groundhogs don't agree|work= The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|location= Atlanta, Georgia}}

| style="background: gold;" |1992{{cite news |last= Osinki|first= Bill|date= 3 February 1992|title= 'Hog chucks idea of more winter weather |work= The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|location= Atlanta, Georgia}}

| style="background: gold;" |1993{{cite news |last= Downs|first= Billy|date= |title= Phil and Lee Disgree|work= The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|location= Atlanta, Georgia}}

| style="background: gold;" |1994{{cite news |last= Downs|first= Billy|date= 3 February 1994|title= Shawdow Dancing |work= The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|location= Atlanta, Georgia}}

| style="background: gold;" |1995{{cite news |last= Warren|first= Christopher C.|date= 2 February 1995|title= General Lee likes what he sees: Spring is near, predicts Georgia groundhog|work= The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|location= Atlanta, Georgia}}

| style="background: gold;" |1996{{cite news |last= Warren|first= Christopher C.|date= 2 February 1996|title= Georgia groundhog's lore-cast: Gen. Lee sees an early spring|work= The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|location= Atlanta, Georgia}}

| style="background: gold;" |1997{{cite news |last= Elredge|first= Richard L.|date= 3 February 1997|title= PEACH BUZZ: Groundhogs see early spring|work= The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|location= Atlanta, Georgia}}

| style="background: gold;" |1998{{cite news |last= Lameiras|first= Maria M. |date= 2 February 1998|title= Spring's just around the bend: General does not see shadow |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |location= Atlanta, Georgia}}

| style="background: gold;" |1999{{cite news |last= Lameiras|first= Maria M. |date= 2 February 1999|title= Spring fever: Groundhog says warm weather near |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |location= Atlanta, Georgia}}

style="background: gold;" |2000{{cite news |last= Morris|first= Mike|date= 2 February 2000|title= Hog's call: Spring's just around the corner|work= The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|location= Atlanta, Georgia}}

| style="background: gold;" |2001{{cite news |last= Morris|first= Mike|date= 2 February 2001|title= Hog heaven! Gen. Lee sees early spring|work= The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|location= Atlanta, Georgia}}

| style="background: gold;" |2002{{cite news |last= Quinn|first= Christopher|date= 3 February 2002|title= 'Early spring' cast But doubt overshadows groundhog's prediction|work= The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|location= Atlanta, Georgia}}

| style="background: gold;" |2003{{cite news |last= Badie|first= Rick|date= 3 February 2003|title= Groundhog looks in vain for shadow 300 see animal forecast early spring|work= The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|location= Atlanta, Georgia}}

| style="background: gold;" |2004{{cite news |last= Osinki|first= Bill|date= 3 February 2004|title= Punxsutawney who? Our own Gen. Lee foresees spring|work= The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|location= Atlanta, Georgia}}

| style="background: gold;" |2005{{cite news |last= Davis|first= Mark|date= 3 February 2005|title= Beau says early spring For first time, female friend joins groundhog|work= The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|location= Atlanta, Georgia}}

| style="background: gold;" |2006{{cite news |last= White|first= Robert|date= 3 February 2006|title= Groundhog's call: Spring is on way 150 watch as Beau's shadow pulls no-show|work= The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|location= Atlanta, Georgia}}

| style="background: gold;" |2007{{cite news |last= Osinki|first= Bill|date= 3 February 2007|title= Not a shadow of doubt|work= The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|location= Atlanta, Georgia}}

| style="background: gold;" |2008{{cite news |author=|date= 3 February 2008|title= A fuzzy forecast for early spring|work= The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|location= Atlanta, Georgia}}

| style="background: gold;" |2009{{cite news |author=|date= 3 February 2009|title= Community News: Gen. Lee takes a brighter view|work= The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|location= Atlanta, Georgia}}

style="background: gold;" |2010{{cite news |last= Ewing|first= Michelle|date= 7 February 2010|title= It was a good week for|work= The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|location= Atlanta, Georgia}}

| style="background: gold;" |2011{{cite news |last= Harstein|first= Larry|date= 3 February 2011|title= An early spring, General Lee predicts|work= The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|location= Atlanta, Georgia}}

| style="background: gold;" |2012{{cite news |last= Morris|first= Mike|date= 3 February 2012|title= Gen. Lee sees no shadow, predicts early spring|work= The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|location= Atlanta, Georgia}}

| style="background: azure;" |2013{{cite news |last= Morris|first= Mike|date= 3 February 2013|title= If you believe groundhog, bundle up: General Beauregard Lee sees shadow and that means a long winter|work= The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|location= Atlanta, Georgia}}

| style="background: gold;" |2014{{cite news |last= Grantham|first= Russell|date= 3 February 2014|title= GROUNDHOG DAY: Rival groundhogs differ on shadowy forecasts: General Lee sees spring coming early; Phil up north, not so|work= The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|location= Atlanta, Georgia}}

| style="background: gold;" |2015{{cite news |last= Morris|first= Mike|date= 3 February 2015|title= Groundhog predicts early spring for Ga.: Pa. counterpart calls for six more weeks of winter|work= The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|location= Atlanta, Georgia}}

| style="background: gold;" |2016{{cite news |last= Foremen|first= Lauren|date= 3 February 2016|title= Ga. groundhog predicts early spring; Pa. counterpart agrees: Celebrity rodents can't seem to find their shadows|work= The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|location= Atlanta, Georgia}}

| style="background: gold;" |2017{{cite news |last= Foremen|first= Lauren|date= 3 February 2017|title= Georgia groundhog predicts early spring -- and a Falcons win|work= The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|location= Atlanta, Georgia}}

| style="background: azure;" |2018{{cite news |last= Coyne|first= Amanda C.|date= 2 February 2018|title= Groundhog Gen. Beauregard Lee sees shadow, predicts winter weather|url= https://www.ajc.com/news/local/groundhog-gen-beauregard-lee-sees-shadow-predicts-winter-weather/e61omXybQ658sGWrlhyGSM/|work= The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|location= Atlanta, Georgia|access-date=2 February 2021}}

| style="background: azure;" |2019{{cite news |author= |date= 2 February 2019|title= General Lee predicts 6 more weeks of winter for Georgia|url= https://www.ajc.com/news/general-lee-predicts-more-weeks-winter-for-georgia/1riguFqbYOS7SgzZFaeWwJ/|work= The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|location= Atlanta, Georgia|access-date=2 February 2021}}

style="background: gold;" |2020{{cite news |last1=King |first1=Michael |title=Groundhogs give conflicting forecasts for coming spring |url=https://www.11alive.com/article/life/animals/groundhogs-give-conflicting-forecasts/85-4e73b08a-39ff-4e6f-a31d-1e642ed88b08 |access-date=27 January 2021 |work=11Alive |publisher=WXIA-TV |date=2 February 2021}}

| style= "background: gold;" |2021{{cite news |last= Elder|first= Lane|date= 2 February 2021|title= Groundhog Day is steeped in tradition but isn't the most accurate, according to weather almanacs|url= https://www.ajc.com/news/groundhog-meteorologists-predict-weather-feb/CsWxLI8SQjAcF6Y79ooGpJ/|work= The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|location= Atlanta, Georgia|access-date=2 February 2021}}

| style= "background: gold;" |2022{{cite news |date= 2 February 2022|title= Georgia's groundhog predicts early spring at Dauset Trails Nature Center|url= https://www.13wmaz.com/article/news/local/georgias-groundhog-predicts-early-spring-at-dauset-trails-nature-center/93-aa0d890f-dbec-4aaa-b275-d1dbb2659f07|work= WMAZ|location= Macon, Georgia|access-date=2 February 2022}}

| style= "background: gold;" |2023{{cite news |date= 2 February 2023|title= Georgia groundhog General Beauregard Lee makes his weather prediction|url= https://www.wjcl.com/article/georgia-groundhog-general-beauregard-lee-makes-his-weather-prediction/42743064|work= WJCL|location= Savannah, Georgia|access-date=2 February 2023}}

| style= "background: gold;" |2024{{cite news |date= 2 February 2023|title= Georgia Groundhog Day : Did General Beauregard Lee see his shadow? Punxsutawney Phil not the only weather predicting groundhog|url= https://www.wjcl.com/article/georgia-groundhog-day-did-general-beauregard-lee-see-his-shadow/46624194

|work= WJCL|location= Savannah, Georgia|access-date= 2 February 2024}}

| style="background: azure;" |2025{{cite news |last= Cross|first= Greta|date= 2 February 2025|title= Did General Beauregard Lee see his shadow? Georgia's groundhog declares long winter|url= https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/02/02/georgia-groundhog-2025-general-beauregard-lee/78032396007/|work= USA Today|location= New York City|publisher= USA Today|access-date=2 February 2025}}

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{{legend-table

|style="background: none;"

|azure|"Long winter" (4)

|gold|"Early spring" (40)

|grey|No record (1)

}}

}}

{{clear}}

List of individual General Lee namesakes

  • General Robert E. Lee{{cite news |last= Morris|first= Mike|date= 2 February 2000|title= Hog's call: Spring's just around the corner|work= The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|location= Atlanta, Georgia}} (1981-1991): This General Lee was considered to have had predicted the weather correctly nine out of ten times from 1981 to 1990. General Robert E. Lee retired in 1991 after he became too old and too fat. In February 1991, a commemorative marker was put on display at Yellow River Game Ranch in celebration of his retirement.{{cite news |last= Wagner|first= Norma|date= 2 February 1991|title= Shadowy seer to succeed General Lee|work= The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|location= Atlanta, Georgia}}
  • General Beauregard Lee (1991-): He was born in 1990 and was a distant relation of the previous General Lee. His namesake is an homage to Generals P. G. T. Beauregard and Robert E. Lee.{{cite news |last= Lameiras|first= Maria M. |date= 1 February 1998|title= Everything's set for furry forecaster to take his stroll |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |location= Atlanta, Georgia|access-date=}} In 1991, he and General Robert E. Lee shared the role of groundhog prognosticator at Yellow River Game Ranch, and the next year Beauregard Lee had his first solo role.{{cite news |last= Osinki|first= Bill|date= 3 February 1992|title= 'Hog chucks idea of more winter weather |work= The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|location= Atlanta, Georgia}} He was considered to have gotten the prediction for 1993 wrong due the blizzard that hit the South that year.{{cite news |last= Kent|first= Peter J.|date= 1 February 1999|title= To see or not to see, that is the question South awaits shadow dancer's climatic tell-all |work= The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|location= Atlanta, Georgia}}

References

{{Reflist|30em}}

External links

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  • [http://www.yellowrivergameranch.com/bio.htm Official Bio]
  • [https://books.google.com/books?id=eFKO9FKPjOwC&dq=general+beauregard+lee&pg=PA39-IA1 Book entitled "Groundhog Day" by Don Yoder]

{{Groundhog Day}}

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Category:Individual animals in the United States

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