Early end to winter predicted by groundhog
Posted Feb 2, 2016 08:08:53 AM.
Last Updated Feb 2, 2016 10:25:27 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Shubenacadie Sam emerged from his burrow this morning under a partly cloudy sky, obscuring the sun enough to cause shadowless conditions.
According to tradition, this means Nova Scotians can expect an early spring.
More than 100 people showed up at the Shubenacadie Provincial Wildlife Park to watch the groundhog make his 8 a.m. prediction.
NEWS 95.7 meteorologist Richard Zurawski seconds Sam’s assessment,
“I’ve been looking at the extended forecast and it looks like we’re going to have an early end to winter,” he explained. “I don’t really see any winter weather for the next couple of weeks.”
Not everyone is happy with the outcome, one local ski hill attempted to bribe the rodent for more snow.
Punxsutawney Phil agreed with Sam and also predicted an early spring, drawing cheers and whistles from the crowd in Pennsylvania.
Ontario’s Wiarton Willie, the unique albino woodchuck, disagreed with his furry colleagues and called for six more weeks of winter on his 60th anniversary of four-legged forecasting.
This year’s festivities have been marred by the death of Sam and Willie’s westerly counterpart, Winnipeg Willow.
Groundhog Day celebrations have been cancelled in Manitoba out of respect for Willow, who died last Friday, however the Prairie Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre said in a statement on their Facebook page, “Willow’s final weather prediction for 2016 would have been an early spring. We hope her prediction comes true. We miss you Willow. Run Free.”
Punxsutawney Phil noted Willow’s passing with his handlers saying they were surprised by news of the death of Phil’s colleague.
