Wiarton Willy predicts early spring

If Canada’s most famous rodent is to be believed Spring is just around the corner, but the story outside of many people’s windows on Saturday tells a different story.

Snow squall warnings were issued by Environment Canada in many parts of southern Ontario, including the Niagara region.

In Wiarton, Ontario on Saturday, crowds gathered to see if the groundhog known as “Willy” would see his shadow. He didn’t, and neither did his American counterpart, Pennsylvania’s Punxsutawney Phil. Not all of the soothsaying critters were in agreement, however, as Nova Scotia’s Shubenacadie saw his shadow, meaning six more weeks of winter.

People may want to hold off on breaking out their lighter clothes. According to historical weather data, the Canadian groundhogs have only correctly predicted the arrival of spring 37 per cent of the time. Punxsutawney Phil was right 39 per cent of the time.

According to Statistics Canada, however, two-thirds of Canadians are still more likely to to trust the forecast of a groundhog than they are their local weatherman.