Wiarton Willie and many other Canadian animal prognosticators have foreseen an early spring following their appearances on Groundhog Day. This tradition involves observing animals emerging from hibernation to predict whether spring will arrive early or winter will persist for six more weeks.
On February 2, groundhogs and even a lobster in Barrington, N.S., made their predictions. Shubenacadie Sam in Nova Scotia and Fred la marmotte in Quebec both predicted an early spring, while Van Isle Violet in Nanaimo, B.C., forecasted six more weeks of winter. Meanwhile, Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania also foresaw six more weeks of winter.
According to legend, if a groundhog or crustacean like Lucy emerges on a sunny day and sees its shadow, it indicates six more weeks of winter. Conversely, if it’s cloudy and no shadow appears, an early spring is anticipated.
In Wiarton, a town with around 1,900 residents, the Groundhog Day festivities take place at Bluewater Park, where Wiarton Willie makes his prediction at 8:07 a.m. ET. The town has seen various Wiarton Willies over 70 years, turning it into a popular tourist destination.
Each year, the festival commences with breakfast and fireworks at 7 a.m., accompanied by various activities like curling, a chili cook-off, and skating at Bluewater Park. Danielle Edwards, manager of economic development and corporate communications for the Town of South Bruce Peninsula, mentioned how the Groundhog Day events serve as a reunion for locals and visitors.
Regarding the anticipation of Willie’s prediction, opinions are divided equally between those hoping for an early spring and those preferring more winter for outdoor activities.
Groundhog Day traces its origin back to the U.S. in 1886, with Punxsutawney Phil making the first prediction. The tradition in Wiarton began in 1956 as a lighthearted initiative to combat winter blues, evolving into an annual celebration over the years.
Accuracy rates of such animal weather prognosticators vary widely. Wiarton Willie has a success rate of 29% since 2000, while U.S. groundhogs show accuracy rates ranging from 25% to 85%. Various regions have their own unique ways of predicting weather, such as using costumes or stuffed animals on Groundhog Day.