Concord Casimir’s Annual Winter Weather Prediction: The Cold Continues

If you're hoping for an early spring, you'll have to wait a little longer, according to a local feline weather predictor.

Casimir, an orange cat who lives in Concord, Ohio, predicts waves of extremely cold weather through the end of winter in his annual forecast which is made in honor of Groundhog Day, according to the cat’s owner John Niedzialek.

Niedzialek, who adopted the cat in 2013, says Casimir makes his annual weather predictions while eating a pierogi meal. This year, a pierogi split in half while Casimir was eating, and indicated a “pierogi vortex.”

“That means waves of cold will continue to split off from our polar region and head our way,” Niedzialek says.

Casimir’s silly pierogi prognostication arrives as Punxsutawney Phil the groundhog makes his yearly prediction in Pennsylvania, along with Buckeye Chuck’s long-running prediction in Marion, Ohio. (For the record — Casimir and Phil are in agreement about this year's weather, while Buckeye Chuck predicts an early spring.)

Niedzialek rescued Casimir outside of St. Casimir Polish Church — hence the Polish pierogi-based prediction. In recent years, the family's tradition has even attracted attention from Mrs. T’s Pierogies, which has supplied pierogies for the event.

Niedzialek, a weather enthusiast, is retired from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and has taught classes on earth science and meteorology at Lakeland Community College.

Read more about Concord Casimir and Buckeye Chuck, Northeast Ohio’s two weather-predicting animals, in our 2024 Best of Cleveland feature.

For more updates about Cleveland, sign up for our Cleveland Magazine Daily newsletter, delivered to your inbox six times a week.

Cleveland Magazine is also available in print, publishing 12 times a year with immersive features, helpful guides and beautiful photography and design.