There seems to be an almost undisputed consensus among Canada’s most famous furry meteorologists this morning: the groundhogs say to expect an early spring in 2021.
Groundhog Day festivities across the country usually see a crowd of Canadians gathering to witness the first waking moments of the famous marmots, but this year’s momentous morning tradition was instead shared by video.
Despite the change, many Canadians tuned in as several groundhogs across North America were roused from their hibernation early, with viewers waiting to see if they would emerge from their burrows and glimpse their shadow, thus predicting six more weeks of winter.
With four weather-predicting celebrity groundhogs across North America, the results tend to show a mixed message each year.
A reluctant Shubenacadie Sam, the groundhog expert in Halifax, N.S., was the earliest riser this morning and did not see his shadow due to a storm — the first prediction for an early spring.
Fred La Marmotte in Val d'Espoir, Que. was also reluctant to emerge from his shelter this morning. When he finally appeared, his handler held him up to his ear and said he predicted an early spring as well.
Wiarton Willie, the famous albino groundhog in Wiarton, Ont., took a well-deserved vacation for the 65th anniversary of the event and did not actually make an appearance this year.
Instead, officials called an early spring and threw a fur hat into the air — a move that pays respect to the first year of the event more than 60 years ago — and shared a prerecorded video of the announcement and history of the tradition.
South of the border in Pennsylvania, Punxsutawney Phil went against the grain and predicted six more weeks of winter — the first and only critter to see his shadow this year.
Arguably the most famous groundhog on the roster, as depicted in the 1993 film Groundhog Day, Phil performed his annual duty to a virtual audience of over 15,000 viewers via live stream.
By consensus, it seems the furry meteorologists are predicting an early spring, despite what weather forecasts may say otherwise.
According to statistics, Punxsutawney Phil generally has an accuracy rate of about 40 per cent, while Shubenacadie Sam boasts an accuracy rate of 45 per cent and Wiarton Willy with 25 per cent.
Also, in the past, groundhog predictions of an early spring have generally tended to be wrong, while predictions of an extended winter have been more accurate — so perhaps only time will tell if Punxsutawney Phil really does know something the rest do not.
