February 2, 2026
RED FM News Desk
Ontario residents received a hopeful signal about the end of winter on Groundhog Day, as Wiarton Willie emerged in Bruce County predicting an early spring.
The province’s most famous prognosticating groundhog did not see his shadow during Monday’s annual ceremony a traditional sign that winter will not last the full six weeks typically forecast when a shadow appears.
Willie’s prediction places Ontario firmly in the early-spring camp this year, offering a boost of optimism as many parts of the province continue to deal with cold temperatures and lingering snow.
Across Canada, several other animal forecasters delivered similar outlooks. In Quebec, Fred la Marmotte made his prediction in Val-d’Espoir, Que., after a festive early-morning event featuring music and dancing. Fred also failed to see his shadow, with organizers revealing the verdict using a sign that read “un printemps hâtif,” or “an early spring.”
In Atlantic Canada, however, severe winter weather disrupted Groundhog Day traditions. Nova Scotia’s Shubenacadie Sam did not make a public appearance after the province cancelled the event due to a winter storm. Officials cited blowing snow and poor visibility that could have made travel unsafe for visitors heading to Shubenacadie Wildlife Park, about 50 kilometres north of Halifax.
Despite the cancellation, the Nova Scotia government said folklore still calls for an early spring, noting that Sam did not see her shadow.
Environment and Climate Change Canada had winter storm and snowfall warnings in place for much of northern Nova Scotia and Cape Breton as of late Sunday, forecasting up to 25 centimetres of snow in some regions.
Last year, Canada’s best-known animal forecasters were split on whether spring would arrive early, making this year’s largely aligned predictions including Ontario’s stand out.
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