Did the groundhogs get it right? Grading this year’s furry forecasters
Predicting the future is hard. Just ask this year’s stars of Groundhog Day
How well did our furry forecasters’ predictions hold up in the six weeks following this year’s Groundhog Day?
Our long and bumpy arrival into spring proves that predicting the future is hard work. The groundhogs (and…lobster) had their work cut out for them, and most didn’t get it right.
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Legend holds that we’ll have six more weeks of winter beyond Feb. 2 if the groundhog sees their shadow, and we’re in for an early spring if they don’t see their shadow.
Shubenacadie Sam and Lucy the Lobster each predicted an early spring this year. This was a big ol’ swing and a miss for our friends on the East Coast.
A snowstorm cancelled Sam’s big reveal, forcing him to predict an early spring by default. Neither his nor Lucy’s forecast worked out in the end.
While we’ve seen some seasonal temperatures throughout Atlantic Canada, several nor’easters and repeated rounds of snow begged to differ with their calls for a quick end to winter weather. For their troubles, they earn a solid C.
Farther west, the same prediction of an early spring came from Ontario’s Wiarton Willie (may he rest in peace) and Quebec’s Fred la Marmotte.
The two provinces endured brutally cold and snowy weather in the weeks leading up to Groundhog Day. But aside from a few winter storms here and there, conditions have been relatively mild in the six weeks since. We’ll give them a generous B.
Prognosticators on the Prairies didn’t do so hot. Balzac Billy and Manitoba Merv each called for six more weeks of winter.
A few intrusions of cold and snowy weather couldn’t overcome the exceptional warmth that spread over parts of the region after Feb. 2. If only they hadn’t seen their shadows, they wouldn’t waddle away with a C.
Our shining star this year was Van Island Violet. She didn’t see her shadow and called for six more weeks of winter.
This was a bold move given that British Columbia struggled with warm and snowless weather for much of the season. But winter staged a mighty comeback on the West Coast in late February and early March. She earned her A this time around.
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