Forget the Groundhog — North Alabama Trusts Sand Mountain Sam to Predict the Weather

North Alabama’s very own Sand Mountain Sam predicting and early spring in 2025. (WAFF)

T.L. Sullivan | The Weekly Ledger News | Community Features

ALBERTVILLE, Ala. — As Groundhog Day approaches on February 2, North Alabama residents know there’s only one weather forecaster worth watching — and he doesn’t live in Pennsylvania. Instead, all eyes turn to Sand Mountain Sam, the beloved possum who has been predicting the weather for more than three decades.

What began as a lighthearted radio stunt in 1993 has grown into a full-fledged regional tradition known as Possum Day, celebrated annually by communities including Albertville, Boaz, Sardis City, and beyond.

“The legend of Sam has really spread,” said WQSB radio host Barry Galloway, who witnessed Sam’s very first prediction. “It’s amazing how something fun turned into something this big.”

According to Galloway, the idea was born after listeners grew tired of hearing Groundhog Day forecasts from Punxsutawney Phil.

“We got tired of hearing the groundhog’s predictions,” Galloway said with a laugh. “He was always wrong. So we decided to find something that fit the South. We let the listeners choose three animals — and Sand Mountain Sam was born.”

Since then, Sam has become a local celebrity — and, according to organizers, a far more reliable one.

“Sam has a better track record than Punxsutawney Phil over the last 20 years,” Galloway said. “Sam has only missed once. That groundhog up there doesn’t know his groundhog from a hole in the ground.”

Each year, Possum Day brings pageantry, music, dancing, and a cast of colorful characters, including the Possum Man and Possum Queens, turning the event into a celebration of community pride and Southern humor.

“Sam is like a beacon of hope,” said WQSB radio host Holli Mostella. “He brings people together from one county to another. We all connect, and we just have fun with it.”

The tradition hasn’t been without its challenges. In 2020, wildlife regulations briefly sidelined Sam, forcing organizers to rely on a stuffed possum for that year’s forecast.

“We had trouble one year and had to find a replacement for Sam at the last minute,” Galloway said. “He wasn’t able to perform his duties.”

Under Alabama law, keeping a possum as a pet is illegal — with one notable exception. An exemption approved by the Alabama Legislature allows Bama Bucks, a restaurant along U.S. 431, to legally handle a possum for the event.

“PETA even got involved,” Galloway said. “But Terry Turk with Bama Bucks received permission from the Alabama Senate, and he now has the rights to handle a possum.”

Despite the occasional hurdle, Sand Mountain Sam continues to charm crowds year after year, proving that even the most unexpected creatures can become symbols of joy.

“People may think possums are a nuisance,” Mostella said, “but they’re also the bringers of good news.”

Possum Day 2026 will take place on February 2 at the WQSB building off U.S. 431, where organizers say Sand Mountain Sam will arrive in style — complete with a police escort — to deliver his much-anticipated forecast.

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©️2026 The Weekly Ledger News. All rights reserved. This report is based on information originally reported by WAFF.