Today is Groundhog Day.
Across North America, groundhogs pop out of their holes and hovels to predict the weather.
Balzac Billy is the “Prairie Prognosticator”, who lives in Balzac, Alta., eight kilometres north of Calgary.
The most famous gopher prognosticator is Punxsutawney Phil.
Every groundhog day people from around the world gather at Gobbler’s Knob, Pennsylvania, waiting for the forecast from the world’s most famous groundhog weatherman.
According to folklore, if the groundhog — be it Billy or Phil — sees its shadow on February 2 it will return to its burrow, indicating that there will be six more weeks of winter.
If it does not see its shadow, then spring is on the way.
Punxsutawney Phil is forecasting an early spring.
This year, they said the rodent did not see his shadow and that will usher in early springlike weather.
Phil’s prognostication has been backed up by Ontario’s Wiarton Willie Nova Scotia’s Shubenacadie Sam and Quebec’s Fred La Marmotte who all agree with the forecast for an early spring.
Balzac Billy did see his shadow this morning to signal six more weeks of winter.
Backing up Billy’s predication are Manitoba Merv and Nova Scotia’s Lucy The Lobster who also cast a shadow this morning.
We took to the streets of Medicine Hat yesterday to see what people were hoping for when the groundhog stuck it’s head out.
