The folksy, mid-winter tradition known as Groundhog Day has seen Canada’s best-known shadow-casting critters divided in their weather predictions. Nova Scotia’s Shubenacadie Sam emerged from his burrow northeast of Halifax this morning, and according to his handlers, saw his shadow. But in Ontario, Wiarton Willie was paraded on stage and evidently saw no shadow. The Groundhog Day ritual may have something to do with Feb. 2 landing midway between winter solstice and spring equinox, but no one knows for sure. For most winter-weary Canadians, Groundhog Day is a welcome distraction, but these pug-nosed rodents don’t have a great track record when it comes to long-term forecasting.

Source: thestar February 02, 2020 12:33 UTC