For the sixth consecutive Groundhog Day, Wiarton Willie hasn’t seen his shadow, which by tradition, means it will be an early spring.
“It’s fitting for the weather we’ve been having for the last two or three weeks. So, you know, people in this area are used to this type of thing. We know what it’s like, but it is nice to hear from Willie on a beautiful day like today, that it’s going to be an early spring,” said Town of South Bruce Peninsula Mayor, Jay Kirkland, who translated Willie’s prediction for the audience Monday morning.
A parking lot packed with people from across Ontario braved minus 20-degree temperatures to hear Willie’s prediction, which was music to most people’s ears.
“Ready for an early spring this year? Too much snow already? Yeah. At this point, I mean, I do love winter, but at this point, I’m ready for spring,” said Abby Burrlett, decked out in groundhog whiskers and pink nose.
“We were hoping to hear an early spring, and we’re hoping that he’s going to be right this year,” said John Warton, from Toronto.
“My car said it was minus 21 this morning, heading out here. So, let’s get things a little warmer, right? An early spring would be great,” said Wiarton resident Justine Wheeler.
IN PICTURES: Wiarton Willie prediction 2026
Not unlike the rest of Ontario, Wiarton has been buried in snow this year. Nearly 350 centimetres so far, which is almost as much snow as they’d receive in an entire winter.
“The gentleman on stage mentioned about his snow blower, and how it was breaking down with the weather. We’ve been having the same things happen to us, so we’re just about ready for it to warm up, for sure. We’re happy,” said Rees Injic, from Hanover.
Although enthusiastic about Willie’s prediction of early spring, some in the crowd are questioning just how realistic a prediction it is.
“Well, I mean, I’m excited for tulips, but it’s hard to believe that spring’s coming early, when it’s this blustery cold. But we can stay optimistic, right?” said Sharlene Allison, from Wiarton.
“I mean, I do have hopes that it is going to be an early spring, but I don’t really know that will happen with how cold it is,” said Eden Allison.
“I think with Georgian Bay frozen, I don’t think we’re going to get a lot more winter. So, I think we are going to get an early spring,” says an optimistic, Perry Allison.
This was Wiarton Willie’s 70th prediction. So far, he’s predicted an early spring, 36 times, six more weeks of winter 25 times, with nine undocumented Groundhog Day predictions.
