The two leading seasonal weather-forecasting woodchucks on Long Island were aligned in their Groundhog Day predictions on Monday, Feb. 2.
Holtsville Hal and Malverne Mel both saw their shadows, which means six more weeks of wintry weather, according to groundhog lore. It marked the first time in five years that Hal and Mel both saw their shadows. That put them in the same camp as Punxsutawney Phil, the nation’s groundhog in chief, who also predicted more winter, and Staten Island Chuck, the Big Apple’s top whistle pig, who did the same, and Sam Champion (the groundhog, not the meteorologist), who made his prediction at the Quogue Library.
“Malverne Mel prognosticated to me that while looking for his shadow, it could surely be seen,” Malverne Mayor Tim Sullivan told the crowd who gathered in the village for the annual festivities. “So, I must now announce that there will be six more weeks of winter.”
Mel’s forecast was held early and in person as usual, but Hal’s was released in an online video again since his home, the Holtsville Ecology Center, was closed and the animals are being relocated following an investigation into their treatment.
“I crept out of my borrow and then I did a quick dive, back into my hole I ran to seek cover, I couldn’t avoid the shadow that I saw began to hover,” Brookhaven Highway Superintendent Dan Losquadro said in the video. “And so, my friends, I’m very sad to say, that cold and gray days are here to stay.”
Their forecast comes after the region was recently hit with back-to-back snowstorms and grappling with below-freezing temperatures. Sadly, Allen McButterpants, the resident groundhog who made predictions for the Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center in Hampton Bays, died last fall.
The spring equinox arrives at 10:46 a.m. Friday, March 20.
Here’s what the local Groundhog Day forecast was in years prior:
2025: Holtsville Hal and Malvene Mel both said spring
2024: Holtsville Hal and Malvene Mel both said spring
2023: Holtsville Hal said spring, Malverne Mel said winter
2022: Holtsville Hal said spring, Malverne Mel said winter
2021: Hal, Mel and Quogue Quigley, aka Sam Champion, all agreed it would be an early spring
2020: Hal and Mel said it would be a long winter, Quigley said early spring
2019: Hal, Mel and Quigley forecast an early spring
2018; Hal, Mel and Quigley forecast an early spring
2017: Hal said there would be six more weeks of winter
2016: Hal and Mel agreed it would be an early spring
2015: Hal and Mel saw their shadows, meaning more wintry weather
2014: Hal and Mel did not see their shadows, meaning spring-like weather
2013: Hal and Mel said there would be more wintry weather
2012: Hal said spring, Mel said winter
2011: Hal said winter
2010: Hal and Mel said winter
2009: Hal said winter, Mel said spring
2008: Mel said spring
2007 Hal said winter, Mel said spring
