MARION, OH (MARION COUNTY NOW)—Ohioans may be trading their parkas for light jackets sooner than expected, according to the state’s most famous groundhog.
Buckeye Chuck, Ohio’s official weather-predicting groundhog, did not see his shadow Monday morning during his 47th annual forecast at the Marion County Fairgrounds. According to legend, a shadowless emergence on Groundhog Day means an early spring is on the way.
A crowd gathered at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum between 7 and 8 a.m. to witness the tradition, which was hosted by 1490 WMRN-AM and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Despite the chilly morning air, overcast skies prevented the legendary marmot from catching a glimpse of his shadow.
Named the state’s official groundhog by the Ohio General Assembly in 1979, Buckeye Chuck has been a staple of North Central Ohio folklore for nearly five decades. While Pennsylvania’s Punxsutawney Phil remains the national face of the holiday, local fans often point to Chuck’s higher regional accuracy rate as reason to trust the Marion-based forecast.
The event also served as a community fundraiser, with organizers collecting canned food and cash donations for the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry.
Photos: Dani Layne
