From the vault, Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Three groundhogs see their shadows, the other three don’t.
It’s Groundhog Day, and the long-range forecast is in from Canada’s woodchuck “weathermen.”
Ontario’s Wiarton Willie emerged from his cozy den this morning and immediately spotted his shadow, which according to groundhog folklore means Canadians can expect six more weeks of what has already been a long, cold, snowy winter.
A little earlier Nova Scotia’s Shubenacadie Sam waddled out into the morning light, but unlike Willie, he did not see his shadow — indicating warmer days are just ahead.
Fred la Marmotte in Val d’Espoir, a town in Quebec Gaspésie region, wasn’t deterred by falling snow. He rendered his early-spring verdict around 9:30 a.m. ET on Sunday.
As for America’s rodent royalty, Pennsylvania’s Punxsutawney Phil — the most famous groundhog of them all — he did see his shadow this morning, heralding another month and a half of Old Man winter.
However, regardless of what the groundhogs may be trying to tell us, Environment Canada is predicting the frigid temperatures that have gripped much of the country for the past two months will likely persist right through February. (source: CBC News)