OWC's Hometown Groundhog Woodstock Willie Predicts Early Spring

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Woodstock Willie is held aloft for the masses to see. The Midwest’s preferred four-pawed prognosticator is predicting and early spring. Photo credit: Madeline Logue

Here at OWC world headquarters in Woodstock, Illinois, we’re lucky to have our own four-pawed prognosticator to seek guidance from each February 1st.

His name is Woodstock Willie, and since 1999 he has been the Midwest’s preferred weather-predicting Groundhog. Each year, Willie attracts huge crowds to our hometown, which got its claim to fame as the filming location for the 1993 classic Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray.

Hundreds gather in the town square of Woodstock, Illinois, to hear Woodstock Willie’s prediction for an early spring. Photo credit: Brook Papazoni

This year, hundreds showed up in the Woodstock town square to see Willie’s prediction for 2024. After Willie was introduced, the crowd cheered when it was announced that he had not seen his shadow, predicting an early spring.

With Willie’s prediction, both of America’s preeminent Groundhog meteorologists are in agreement that spring will come early this year, as Willie’s Pennsylvanian counterpart Punxsutawney Phil failed to see his shadow as well.

Happy Groundhog Day from everyone here at OWC!