Shubenacadie Sam predicts early spring
Posted Feb 2, 2016 11:32:01 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
SHUBENACADIE – It looks like an early spring is on its way to Nova Scotia after Shubenacadie Sam failed to see his shadow on Tuesday morning.
About 50 people showed up to the Shubenacadie Wildlife Park before sunrise Tuesday morning, as they hoped to get a look at the furry prognosticator as he made his annual prediction.
Anita Benidict, Town Crier for the Municipality of East Hants, made the announcement that Sam had failed to see his shadow and predicted an early spring.
Benidict said Sam was a little off in his prediction last year, but she’s personally hoping he’s back on track after a brutal end to last winter.
“I’m hoping he’s right … that was wild last year and I don’t ever want to see another winter like that,” Benedict said. “I don’t mind winter, just not that much,” she added with a laugh.
News 95.7 Meteorologist Richard Zurawski agrees with Sam, atleast for now, as he predicts springtime temperatures could come a little early this year.
“I’ve been looking at the extended forecast and it looks like it’s going to come that way,” Zurawski said. “I don’t really see any winter weather for the next couple of weeks so I’m joining Sam and saying ‘It’s an early end to winter.”’
Benedict said regardless of the prediction, the ceremonies serve as a fantastic way to bring a small community together.
“It’s a great opportunity for people to come to the park, it’s something we can all get behind, even if the prediction is something you don’t like, it’s just fun.”
Pennsylvania’s Punxsutawney Phil also predicted an early spring but Ontario’s Wiarton Willie expects six more weeks of winter. Groundhog Day celebrations were actually cancelled in Manitoba due out of respect for Willow, the groundhog who died at the prairie Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre last Friday.
