Western North Carolina's groundhog prognosticators, Pisgah Piper and Tater the Groundhog, have seemingly united with Punxsutawney Phil to predict six more weeks of winter.
Pisgah Piper is among groundhogs that saw its shadow, forecasting six more weeks of winter. Piper continues the legacy of Pisgah Penny, offering a uniquely WNC take on the tradition.
Tater the Groundhog's Tater made his appearance at Chimney Rock State Park this morning. Tater also saw his shadow, predicting more winter weather. He also made his annual "hair-raising" Super Bowl LIX pick immediately following the ceremony. After seeing his shadow this morning and predicting six more weeks of winter, Tater the Groundhog officially picked the New England Patriots to win Super Bowl LX.
The ceremony at Chimney Rock State Park involved Tater choosing between two bowls of his favorite snacks, each representing one of the Super Bowl contenders. He bypassed the Seattle Seahawks bowl and headed straight for the Patriots,
Rutherwood Ray (Ray’s Weather): Our local "virtual" groundhog noted that while he saw his shadow (once he thawed out), the next several weeks will likely come in "waves" rather than extreme cold, with a nice warmup expected mid-next week.
Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania also predicted six more weeks of winter. Of the groundhogs tracked, more predicted a longer winter than an early spring. Whether you are a "true believer" or a seasoned skeptic, the consensus for 2026 is clear: keep those winter coats handy. With Western North Carolina’s own Tater and the legendary Punxsutawney Phil both spotting their shadows, the "more winter" camp has a firm lead.
While Phil’s 39% historical accuracy suggests we might want to take his forecast with a grain of salt, the spirit of the tradition remains undefeated. From the shadow-chasing rodents of the Appalachians to the high-stakes Super Bowl picks at Chimney Rock, Groundhog Day continues to be our favorite way to embrace the mid-winter stretch. As we wait to see if an early spring will surprise us after all,
WNCTimes