Wiarton Willie, among many other Canadian animal forecasters, has anticipated an early spring as he failed to spot his shadow on Groundhog Day morning. Groundhog Day is a tradition where animals emerge from hibernation to predict the arrival of spring or the extension of winter.
On February 2nd, groundhogs and even a lobster peek out to check for their shadows. Here are some Canadian animal weather predictors and their predictions: Shubenacadie Sam in Nova Scotia forecasts an early spring, Lucy the Lobster in Barrington, N.S. predicts an early spring, Fred la marmotte in Quebec forecasts an early spring, Van Isle Violet in Nanaimo, B.C. predicts six more weeks of winter, and Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania predicts six more weeks of winter.
According to legend, if a groundhog or crustacean like Lucy emerges on a sunny day and sees its shadow, it signals six more weeks of winter. However, if it’s cloudy with no shadow, an early spring is on the way.
In Wiarton, an event at Bluewater Park draws crowds for the Groundhog Day prediction by Wiarton Willie at 8:07 a.m. ET. This tradition has been ongoing for 70 years, attracting tourists to the Bruce Peninsula town.
The festivities feature an annual festival with breakfast, fireworks, curling, a chili cook-off, skating, and family activities at Bluewater Park. The town’s Economic Development and Corporate Communications Manager, Danielle Edwards, describes the event as a homecoming for many, with visitors returning to celebrate the tradition together.
Opinions on Willie’s prediction are split evenly between those hoping for an early spring and others preferring more winter for outdoor activities. Groundhog Day’s roots trace back to the U.S., with the first prediction made by Punxsutawney Phil in 1886.
Wiarton’s Groundhog Day festivities originated in 1956 as a playful gesture by Mac McKenzie, evolving into a significant event for the community. The accuracy rates of animal forecasters vary widely, with Wiarton Willie having a 29% success rate since 2000, according to the Weather Network.
In the U.S., groundhog accuracy rates ranged from 25% to 85%, with different regions having their own unique ways of predicting the weather on Groundhog Day. Additional predictors include Bonhomme Couèche in Shediac, N.B., Manitoba Merv, Alberta’s Balzac Billy, and B.C.’s Okanagan Okie.
Groundhog Day continues to be a celebrated tradition, blending folklore with meteorological predictions and drawing crowds to witness the annual weather forecasts.