Conflicting Weather Forecasts

It’s not unusual for forecasters giving long term predictions to have a difference of opinion. Earlier this week Punxatawney Phil was dragged kicking and screaming from his burrow to say winter would continue for six more weeks before he dove out of sight again. (Okay, I made some of that up, but that could have happened.) Meanwhile, to our north in the land of Canada,

Shubenacadie Sam and Wiarton Willie scampered out of hibernation Thursday to declare to a nation normally chilled to the bone on Groundhog Day that, having failed to see their shadows, winter's days are numbered. …

"I talked to the groundhog a moment ago in Groundhogese," said Mac McKenzie, who founded the groundhog festival in the central Ontario town of Wiarton some 50 years ago, shortly after the famed albino marmot made his prediction.

"He tells me what you fools are doing is wrong. He said, 'I know spring is here now.' That's what our groundhog says."

Nova Scotia's Shubenacadie Sam, Atlantic Canada's most famous weather-forecasting rodent, couldn't wait to show off his skills.

"He's not very fond of the snow. Groundhogs don't generally care for it," said Tracy Miller, an employee of Shubenacadie Wildlife Park near Halifax.

"Every once in a while he has to be bribed with something edible, but this year he was willing to come out and give us a prediction."

Further west, a lesser-known rodent by the name of Manitoba Merv emerged from his den at Oak Hammock Marsh shortly after dawn, looked around, and then retreated before issuing an "official prediction" that Manitoba would have an early spring.

So here’s hoping that Phil got it wrong. After all, he was out numbered 3 to 1. And if it gets to be spring in Canada six weeks early, it will be mighty tough for winter to hang on in Pennsylvania.

The article also mentions that they have taken the plows off the city trucks in Edmonton so they could focus on street sweeping instead of plowing. Now that is a sure sign of spring!