Bassknuckles
Angler
Time to unwrap the boat, wax the hull and change the water pump. According to Mel the Bunker will be in Jamaica bay early. I'm predicting April 15th this year for the first siting
From Newsday
"Long Island's groundhogs don't see shadows, predict early spring
Malverne Mel and Holtsville Hal's more famous brethren, Punxsutawney Phil, also didn't see his shadow in Pennsylvania. Nor did Staten Island Chuck.
Malverne Mel predicted Saturday there would be an early spring. Photo Credit: Debbie Egan Chin
By Jean-Paul Salamanca and Rachel Uda[email protected], [email protected] @JPaulSalamancaUpdated February 2, 2019 11:18 AM
It's unanimous: No shadows were spotted by Long Island's resident groundhogs and their brethren in Pennsylvania and New York City, meaning winter's days are numbered.
Malverne Mel, Holtsville Hal, Staten Island Chuck and the revered Punxsutawney Phil predicted an early spring to relieve this week's polar vortex.
For her 12th and final time as the mayor of Malverne, Patricia McDonald held an ear trumpet up to her village’s beloved groundhog and listened to his prediction. Before a crowd at Crossroads Farm, she announced the good news.
“This being my last time with Malverne Mel, I’m glad that everything worked out well and that there’s going to be an early spring,” McDonald said.
A long line formed inside to catch a glimpse of the prognosticator, who’s about 2 years old and was found wandering around the village, according to his handler, Bruce Berger.
Brian Connor, of Lynbrook, brought his three children to see Mel, but Brian, 4, Andrew, 5, and Ella, 8, were more interested in the free hot chocolate and pastries being served nearby.
“It’s a great event for the community to come together, but I was hoping for a couple more snowstorms before spring,” Connor said.
The tradition began in Malverne 24 years ago under former Mayor Joseph Canzoneri, who said he wanted to do something to “put Malverne on the map.” Every year since, Malverne’s mayors have braved the cold, donned their top hats and broadcast Malverne Mel’s predictions.
“I’m confident that we’ll continue to see this as a happy event for the village,” Canzoneri said. “It’s something that brings a lot of life to the area.”
Groundhogs aren’t always the most reliable forecasters, but they may be on to something. According to the National Weather Service, Saturday's expected high temperatures of 33 to 35 degrees are about 10 to 15 degrees milder than Friday and temperatures could rise as high as the mid-50s on Tuesday.
National Weather Service meteorologist David Stark, based in Upton, said the next six to 10 days will be milder than usual as residual cold from the polar vortex — which left the United States late Thursday to move into Canada — leaves the area.
“Mother Nature follows her own schedule," Stark said. "We still have another month of what we consider meteorological winter. … It doesn’t necessarily mean that spring is right around the corner.”4
News 12 Long Island meteorologist Bruce Avery bucked the trend set by the groundhogs, saying he expected at least six more weeks of winter.
With Stefanie Dazio"
From Newsday
"Long Island's groundhogs don't see shadows, predict early spring
Malverne Mel and Holtsville Hal's more famous brethren, Punxsutawney Phil, also didn't see his shadow in Pennsylvania. Nor did Staten Island Chuck.
Malverne Mel predicted Saturday there would be an early spring. Photo Credit: Debbie Egan Chin
By Jean-Paul Salamanca and Rachel Uda[email protected], [email protected] @JPaulSalamancaUpdated February 2, 2019 11:18 AM
It's unanimous: No shadows were spotted by Long Island's resident groundhogs and their brethren in Pennsylvania and New York City, meaning winter's days are numbered.
Malverne Mel, Holtsville Hal, Staten Island Chuck and the revered Punxsutawney Phil predicted an early spring to relieve this week's polar vortex.
For her 12th and final time as the mayor of Malverne, Patricia McDonald held an ear trumpet up to her village’s beloved groundhog and listened to his prediction. Before a crowd at Crossroads Farm, she announced the good news.
“This being my last time with Malverne Mel, I’m glad that everything worked out well and that there’s going to be an early spring,” McDonald said.
A long line formed inside to catch a glimpse of the prognosticator, who’s about 2 years old and was found wandering around the village, according to his handler, Bruce Berger.
Brian Connor, of Lynbrook, brought his three children to see Mel, but Brian, 4, Andrew, 5, and Ella, 8, were more interested in the free hot chocolate and pastries being served nearby.
“It’s a great event for the community to come together, but I was hoping for a couple more snowstorms before spring,” Connor said.
The tradition began in Malverne 24 years ago under former Mayor Joseph Canzoneri, who said he wanted to do something to “put Malverne on the map.” Every year since, Malverne’s mayors have braved the cold, donned their top hats and broadcast Malverne Mel’s predictions.
“I’m confident that we’ll continue to see this as a happy event for the village,” Canzoneri said. “It’s something that brings a lot of life to the area.”
Groundhogs aren’t always the most reliable forecasters, but they may be on to something. According to the National Weather Service, Saturday's expected high temperatures of 33 to 35 degrees are about 10 to 15 degrees milder than Friday and temperatures could rise as high as the mid-50s on Tuesday.
National Weather Service meteorologist David Stark, based in Upton, said the next six to 10 days will be milder than usual as residual cold from the polar vortex — which left the United States late Thursday to move into Canada — leaves the area.
“Mother Nature follows her own schedule," Stark said. "We still have another month of what we consider meteorological winter. … It doesn’t necessarily mean that spring is right around the corner.”4
News 12 Long Island meteorologist Bruce Avery bucked the trend set by the groundhogs, saying he expected at least six more weeks of winter.
With Stefanie Dazio"
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