Groundhogs mostly agree on weather predictions

Today is Groundhog Day! At some point in history, we thought an animal could predict the weather. If a groundhog sees their shadow, it means six more weeks of winter; if it doesn't see its shadow, it means an early spring.

In the east, Shubenacadie Sam, Two Rivers Tunnel, and Fred la marmotte did not see their shadow, meaning an early spring.

Wiarton Willie predicts an early spring. We're still waiting on a word from Balzac Billy in Alberta.

In the United States, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, indicating six more weeks of winter.

The idea of Groundhog Day dates back thousands of years to Europe. Ancient Romans used Candlemas Day to predict the weather. They used animals like hedgehogs to help “read” the signs.

German settlers later picked up the tradition, using animals such as Badgers and Hedgehogs. When German immigrants came to Pennsylvania in the 1700s, they didn’t find hedgehogs—so they substituted the groundhog.

Groundhog predictions are mostly symbolic, with accuracy rates hovering around 35 to 40 percent.