Manitobans may need to keep their winter gear handy a little longer.
Manitoba Merv emerged on Groundhog Day Sunday and saw his shadow, signalling six more weeks of winter according to the annual tradition.
Merv made his prediction from a viewing platform at Oak Hammock Marsh, just north of Stonewall.
The forecast aligns with classic folklore, which holds that a shadow sighting means winter conditions will linger, while the absence of a shadow points to an early spring.
Despite the light-hearted nature of the prediction, Manitoba Merv’s annual appearance has become a familiar winter tradition, offering a moment of fun — and a reminder that prairie winters are not quite ready to loosen their grip.
In Manitoba in 2026, the astronomical first day of spring — the vernal equinox — falls on Friday, March 20, 2026. That’s the moment when day and night are nearly equal in length, marking the start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere.
