The freezing cold should subside soon, according to the region’s favourite weather-gauging groundhog.
Wiarton Willie predicted an early spring at 8:07 a.m. Monday, reportedly not seeing his shadow and signaling a sooner end to winter.
Mayor Jay Kirkland delivered the verdict at a ceremony on the future site of the new Wiarton town hall. The morning began with fireworks and breakfast at 7 a.m.
Willie's prediction was the main event of the 70th annual Wiarton Willie festival, which ran all weekend.
According to legend, if a groundhog emerges from its burrow on February 2 and sees its shadow there will be six more weeks of winter. If it doesn't see its shadow it will be an early spring.
Willie's prediction is inline with other Canadian weather prognosticators. Both Quebec’s Fred la Marmotte and Nova Scotia's Lucy the Lobster called for an early spring. However, their American counterpart Punxsutawney Phil predicted six-more weeks of winter.
