What to know
- Wiarton Willie emerged at Bluewater Park at 8:07 a.m. and did not see his shadow, which, according to Groundhog Day tradition, points to an early spring for Toronto.
- The annual Feb. 2 event draws crowds, even though The Weather Network reports Wiarton Willie’s 29 per cent success rate.
- Predictions were mixed across the country, with some groundhogs calling for an early spring while others forecast six more weeks of winter.
Will Toronto escape the cold? Here’s what Ontario’s groundhog Wiarton Willie predicts.
The Groundhog Day legend says there will be six additional weeks of winter if a groundhog sees their shadow or an early spring if they don’t.
In Wiarton, Ont., the Groundhog Day event took place at Bluewater Park, where the groundhog made his prediction. At 8:07 a.m., Wiarton did not see his shadow, so the results show an early spring is probably coming to Toronto.
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Annually on Feb. 2, the tradition becomes a tourist attraction, and locals attend the event to see what the weather will bring.
The tradition originates from American Punxsutawney Phil in 1886, and his event is featured in the movie Groundhog Day with Bill Murray.
However, The Weather Network’s meteorologist Kelly Sonneburg shares that Willie’s placement gives him good odds in predicting early spring, specifically that “Willie is a glass half-full type of rodent.”
Other groundhogs also predicted Canadian weather, including Fred la Marmotte in Quebec. He made his prediction in front of the Permaculture school in Val d’Espoir, and also forecasts an early spring.
Nova Scotia’s Shubenacadie Sam’s annual event was cancelled due to heavy snow. Spokespeople at the event shared that the groundhog did not see a shadow, which points to an early spring.
Manitobans have less luck as their groundhog Merv saw his shadow from Oak Hammock Marsh this morning, anticipating six more weeks of winter.
Alberta will have that same bad fortune, as Balzac Billy saw his shadow at the Blue Grass Nursery and Garden Centre from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. MST.
For the fifth year in a row, British Columbia’s Van Island Violet has predicted another six weeks of winter.
