# Buckeye Chuck Prediction History

- Link: https://wmrnhistory.com/buckeye-chuck-predictions/
- Published: 2026-10-05T21:26:06-04:00
- Author: Brendon Hamblin

Historical Reference The Buckeye Chuck Prediction Record Buckeye Chuck has been Ohio’s official weather-predicting groundhog since 1979. The first official forecast in the surviving researched record is from 1980. This page preserves the most accurate year-by-year prediction log currently available to the WMRN Radio History Archive. View the Prediction Log Buckeye Chuck History Hub Buckeye Chuck Exhibit 47Official Groundhog Days 43Recorded Predictions 31Early Springs 12Longer Winters 4Unresolved Years The Record What the surviving record shows From 1980 through 2026, 43 Buckeye Chuck forecasts are presently documented: 31 early-spring predictions and 12 predictions of six more weeks of winter. 4 official-era years remain unresolved: 1982, 1985, 1992, 1995. The Archive does not assign a prediction to those years without stronger evidence. Standardized NOAA Comparison Buckeye Chuck vs. Punxsutawney Phil Buckeye Chuck60%accuracy VS. Punxsutawney Phil35%accuracy Chuck leads by 25 percentage points in NOAA’s February 2, 2026 analysis covering 2006–2025. Read NOAA’s methodology and rankings. 1980–2026 Year-by-Year Prediction Log In Groundhog Day tradition, seeing a shadow means six more weeks of winter; no shadow means an early spring. Missing years are left unresolved rather than inferred. Early Spring = No shadow Longer Winter = Saw shadow Unresolved = No verified prediction Buckeye Chuck official-era prediction record, 1980–2026 YearPredictionShadowRecord Status 2026 Early Spring No shadow Recorded 2025 Early Spring No shadow Recorded 2024 Early Spring No shadow Recorded 2023 Six More Weeks of Winter Saw shadow Recorded 2022 Early Spring No shadow Recorded 2021 Early Spring No shadow Recorded 2020 Early Spring No shadow Recorded 2019 Early Spring No shadow Recorded 2018 Six More Weeks of Winter Saw shadow Recorded 2017 Six More Weeks of Winter Saw shadow Recorded 2016 Six More Weeks of Winter Saw shadow Recorded 2015 Early Spring No shadow Recorded 2014 Early Spring No shadow Recorded 2013 Early Spring No shadow Recorded 2012 Early Spring No shadow Recorded 2011 Early Spring No shadow Recorded 2010 Early Spring No shadow Recorded 2009 Six More Weeks of Winter Saw shadow Recorded 2008 Early Spring No shadow Recorded 2007 Early Spring No shadow Recorded 2006 Six More Weeks of Winter Saw shadow Recorded 2005 Six More Weeks of Winter Saw shadow Recorded 2004 Six More Weeks of Winter Saw shadow Recorded 2003 Early Spring No shadow Recorded 2002 Six More Weeks of Winter Saw shadow Recorded 2001 Early Spring No shadow Recorded 2000 Early Spring No shadow Recorded 1999 Early Spring No shadow Recorded 1998 Early Spring No shadow Recorded 1997 Early Spring No shadow Recorded 1996 Early Spring No shadow Recorded 1995 Unrecorded Unknown Unresolved 1994 Six More Weeks of Winter Saw shadow Recorded 1993 Six More Weeks of Winter Saw shadow Recorded 1992 Unrecorded Unknown Unresolved 1991 Early Spring No shadow Recorded 1990 Early Spring No shadow Recorded 1989 Early Spring No shadow Recorded 1988 Early Spring No shadow Recorded 1987 Early Spring No shadow Recorded 1986 Early Spring No shadow Recorded 1985 Unrecorded Unknown Unresolved 1984 Six More Weeks of Winter Saw shadow Recorded 1983 Early Spring No shadow Recorded 1982 Unrecorded Unknown Unresolved 1981 Early Spring No shadow Recorded 1980 Early Spring No shadow Recorded Open Research 4 years still need documentation 1982, 1985, 1992, 1995 remain unrecorded in the best-supported WMRN-aligned historical record currently available. Some secondary internet sources assign predictions to several unresolved years, but the WMRN Radio History Archive retains them as unresolved until sufficient primary-source documentation—such as contemporary newspaper coverage, WMRN audio, scripts, photographs, or station records—is located. Have documentation? Contact the Archive About the Record Research Notes and Methodology Ohio designated Buckeye Chuck as its official weather-predicting groundhog in 1979. Paul James has described the surviving official record as beginning with the 1980 forecast and has noted that earlier Charlie Evers-era Buckeye Chuck forecasts existed before the official designation but are not part of the documented official series presented here. This log distinguishes between recorded and unresolved predictions. The Archive’s goal is to preserve a traceable historical record and update it as better evidence becomes available. The approximately 71% historical success figure cited in WMRN-related research is based on a different record and methodology than NOAA’s standardized 2006–2025 comparison, so the two figures should not be treated as directly interchangeable. Documentation Sources Paul James interview discussing Buckeye Chuck’s researched historical record Buckeye Chuck year-by-year prediction dataset NOAA: Grading the Groundhogs — 2026 update using 2006–2025 data Explore the Collection Related WMRN Radio History Archive Materials WMRN-2026-050 Buckeye Chuck Groundhog Day Promotional Buttons Collection WMRN-2026-040 2006 Buckeye Chuck Groundhog Day Broadcast Coverage WMRN-2026-028 “Come On Out to WMRN” — Buckeye Chuck Promotion Featuring Charlie Evers WMRN-2026-020 Buckeye Chuck Celebrations — Marion Star Photo Collection