Okanagan Okie set to forecast spring at Thursday Allan Brooks Nature Centre event

Photo: Contributed

Vernon's prognosticating prairie dog may get to see his shadow tomorrow, and maybe not.

With an ambiguous forecast, sunshine could come into play – and that could mean either a long winter or an early spring, according to Groundhog Day lore.

Allan Brooks Nature Centre's Okanagan Okie will make his prediction Thursday at 10:15 a.m. at the centre on Commonage Road.

While our local marmots are still hibernating, Okie the stuffed mascot has no such worries.

He'll 'emerge' to forecast the weather, rain or shine.

And it could go either way, with a forecast calling for "mainly cloudy" skies, but a chance of some sunny breaks.

Should Okie see his shadow, that hails six more weeks of winter weather, but if he doesn't, an early spring is predicted.

The folks at Environment Canada call for temperatures increasing through the weekend, with the only chance of sunshine tomorrow. The rest of the week is looking pretty grey.

"We just want this to be a fun time to get people outside, enjoy some hot chocolate, a few laughs, sit near a bonfire and maybe get a chance to see some of the local grassland wildlife if they’re out," says centre manager Cheryl Hood.

The event "is about celebrating the changing of the seasons and celebrating each other."