Vaccine doses and certain business reopenings aren't the only thing Airdrie residents will have to wait a little longer for this year.
On Feb. 2 at 8:10 a.m., local groundhog forecaster Balzac Billy emerged from his burrow at the Blue Grass Ltd. Nursery, Sod and Garden Centre parking lot. Despite overcast skies, Billy claimed to spot his shadow, signalling another six weeks of winter.
Donning his shades and sporting a new face mask to protect himself from COVID-19, Billy gave the small crowd of media and Blue Grass employees two thumbs down, before scurrying back into his burrow just east of Highway 2 – presumably to self-isolate for another six weeks.
While Billy's prediction is not always right – he incorrectly predicted an early spring in 2019 and 2020 – a forecast that includes lows in the range of -20 C this week could be a sign that recent cold weather is here to stay a little longer.
