STAY CONNECTED: Have the stories that matter most delivered every night to your email inbox. Subscribe to our daily local news wrap.
Balzac Billy has predicted six more weeks of winter for the Prairie provinces (Photo: Blue Grass Garden Centre Calgary)
Groundhog Day

Balzac Billy predicts six more weeks of winter in the Prairies

Feb 2, 2021 | 1:41 PM

Although three of Canada’s famous weather predicting groundhogs have called an early spring, Balzac Billy says things might be a little different in the Prairies.

Balzac Billy is known as the ‘Prairie Prognosticator’.

On Tuesday morning, Billy’s annual Groundhog Day ceremony was livestreamed virtually.

The man-sized groundhog mascot put on his shades when he saw his shadow, which means the Prairie provinces could see six more weeks of winter.

In other parts of the country, Shubenacadie Sam, Fred La Marmotte and Wiarton Willie all predicted an early spring when they did not see their shadows.

Balzac Billy isn’t alone on his prediction though, as Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania agreed with him, also calling for a later start to the spring season.

(Lethbridge News Now)