Three of Canada's top rodent weather forecasters have predicted an early spring, capping off a tough weather week with at least the hope of good news.
Ontario's Wiarton Willie, Nova Scotia's Shubenacadie Sam and Alberta's Balzac Billy -- who is actually a stuffed gopher, not a live groundhog -- all failed to see their shadows after being roused by their handlers this morning, paving the way for an early spring.
Sam was the first to weigh in, rushing furiously into the rain on Saturday morning at the Shubenacadie Wildlife Park, an hour north of Halifax. When he finally slowed down, Park staff were convinced he didn't catch a glimpse of his shadow. They say that when it comes to predicting weather, personality goes a long way.
"Shubenacadie Sam was basically picked for his temperament, not for his good looks," said Nicole Cleveland.
"He's a very smart groundhog. He loves people. The bagpipes wake him up. He comes out to see everybody."
Willie emerged with his handlers shortly after 8 a.m. ET, and after being held up to face fans' flashbulbs, indicated that he agreed with Sam on the winter issue.
"Dignitaries, me lads and ladies," town crier Bruce Kruger told those gathered in the Bruce Peninsula town: "Get your shorts and T-shirts too, Wiarton Willie's annual task is through. Now the town crier proudly rings, Willie predicts it's an early spring."
Balzac Billy -- located north of Calgary, where gophers are plentiful -- followed afterwards.
However, it seems the country's revered rodents did not confer with their counterpart across the border before making their predictions, as Pennsylvania's Punxsutawney Phil indicated to thousands gathered at Gobbler's Knob to hunker down for six more weeks of chilly temperatures.
"Here ye, hear ye, hear ye," exclaimed William Cooper, President of Punxsutawney's Inner Circle, one of many members of the local groundhog club waiting to greet their muse in black trench coats and top hats. "After casting a withered eye on his followers ... (Phil has declared) 'a bright sky I see and a shadow beside me, six more weeks of winter I see.'"
Organizers insist Cooper is the only person in the world who can speak "groundhog-ese."
Legend has it that if a groundhog emerges to a sunny day and sees his shadow, he will scoot back into his hole for another six weeks. If not, winter's chill will soon be over.
The festival is believed to have stemmed from a German superstition and is held on Candlemas, the Christian custom where candles are lit during the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin Mary.
A tough weather week
The fun of the annual forecast comes after a tough winter weather week in Canada.
Parts of British Columbia and the Prairies suffered under temperatures, that when combined with windchill, made it feel like -40 or -50 Celsius.
Tragically, two little girls died of exposure on the Yellow Quill reserve on Tuesday. They are to be buried today.
Some in Prince Edward Island are still without power after an ice storm on Tuesday.
At least one traffic death is being blamed on a major snowstorm that hit Central Canada on Friday. Ontario Provincial Police say more than 900 crashes occurred during the storm.
