Groundhog Day on Long Island: Malverne Mel, Holtsville Hal, Quogue's Sam Champion predict early spring 

An early spring is on the way, according to all three of Long Island's prognosticating groundhogs. Malverne Mel, Holtsville Hal and Quogue's Sam Champion did not see their shadows on Friday, according to officials gathered at the separate Groundhog Day ceremonies. (The most famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, agreed with them.)

Gray skies and a slight chill at Crossroads Farm at Grossmann’s in Malverne didn't deter a large crowd of various ages from coming out to see Malverne Mel on Friday morning.

“This is really all about community and celebrating the day itself,” said Malverne Mayor Timothy Sullivan, who took part in his first Groundhog Day ceremony. Putting his hand to his ear, he leaned in toward Mel to get this year's prediction.

Mel has a “pretty good record” of predicting the weather, Sullivan said. “I’m fairly confident that he’s predicted wisely this year once again.”

But before providing his annual forecast, Mel escaped his VIP pen, making it almost to the farm parking lot before his handler scooped him up.

Sullivan was joined by other officials, including Rockville Centre Mayor Fran Murray and Lynbrook Mayor Alan Beech. The Malverne Civic Association provided free hot chocolate and snacks, as well as live music.

Lisa Durand, association president, announced the organization’s poster contest winners, saying the civic group received more than 100 submissions.

“I've been doing this for years,” she said. “I just love to see the people come out. I love to see the smiles on the kids' faces waiting to see what Malverne Mel is gonna say.”

Camille Emeagwali of Malverne said her 8-year-old son, Akosa Emeagwali, woke up at 4 a.m. in anticipation of the event, which was both mother and son's first time seeing Mel.

“He was very excited like it was Christmas morning,” she said.

Akosa said he was happy that we would get an early spring, because he likes to garden and someday hopes to plant a tree.

The ceremony was also a first for Samantha Durante, 21, of Albertson, who attended with friends.

Seeing Mel has been a tradition for the group for years, she said. She decided to tag along while home from college.

“It felt refreshing,” she said. “The fact I can do childlike things with my friends is super fun.”

The Old Farmer’s Almanac and the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center both forecast that Long Island could see above-average temperatures in the months ahead, but what do they know?

If a groundhog sees its shadow that means six more weeks of winter is on the way, according to folklore. No shadow means an early spring.

Punxsutawney Phil also predicted an early spring on Friday in Gobbler’s Knob, Pennsylvania, the site of the country’s largest and best known Groundhog Day celebration.

After Quogue's Sam Champion, formerly known as Quogue Quigley and named after the TV weatherman, failed to see its shadow on Friday afternoon, little hope remained for anyone wishing for more snow.

Last year, Long Island's three groundhogs were divided in their prognostications, with Mel predicting an early spring while his Suffolk counterparts called for more winter.

Long Island winters can be a bit unpredictable. The Island recorded its earliest 70-degree day last year on Feb. 16. But two weeks later, the region got its first and only significant snow.

“It’s difficult looking into the future and … it only takes one anomaly to shake things up,” said Dominic Ramunni, a meteorologist with the weather service in Upton. “If we get the ingredients for one classic blockbuster snowstorm in February, you can’t entirely rule it out.”

With Robert Brodsky