Holtsville Hal's furry feeling: early spring

There is no truth to the rumor that Holtsville Hal emerged from his burrow Thursday morning in a tropical shirt and sunglasses, declaring spring's early arrival.

Long Island's other groundhog, Malverne Mel, disagreed with Hal and saw his shadow, calling for six more weeks of winter.

And to the west, the most acclaimed of the furry weather-predicting rodents, Punxsutawney Phil and Staten Island Chuck, also turned in a split decision.

For Phil, it was yes on his shadow and six more weeks of winter. For Chuck, it was no shadow and an early spring.

Given Hal's lineage and experience, the prognosticating groundhog -- specie Marmota monax -- would never allow himself to be influenced or fooled by an unseasonably warm and virtually snow-free Long Island winter, his closest confidants said.

Before nearly 200 of his fans at the Brookhaven Ecology Site, Park & Animal Preserve, Hal did not see his shadow and called for an early spring, proclaimed John Rouse, Brookhaven superintendent of highways.

To those who cheered Hal's weather forecast, his was the only one that mattered.

"He's never wrong," said Mary Maki, 42, of Baiting Hollow, who along with her twin sons, Sean and Ryan, 9, and their aunt Josie Libassi of Middle Island, wore groundhog hats to the event.

Perhaps believing in Hal and Chuck is just a matter of wanting an early spring.

Rouse, who for the ninth year read Hal's proclamation, did, in fact, wear a tropical shirt and sunglasses. He also bounced a beach ball between interviews and photo requests -- which included Hal -- and said he could feel it was almost time to put his boat in the water.

"We switched outfits," Rouse said, indicating perhaps that Hal had wanted to dress more appropriately for his annual announcement.

Greg Drossel, Hal's handler, said the groundhog declined the warm-weather apparel. Hal "is more of a naturalist" when it comes to fashion, he said.

"Hal's one who can wear fur and get away with it," Drossel said.

Wayne Carrington of Holtsville, who has become an unofficial spokesman for the annual event in Brookhaven, said Hal relies on the vibes of the surrounding animals at the ecology site and also the dirt in which he burrows to make his predictions.

This year, soft dirt means early spring.

Although Long Island's other weather-tuned rodent disagrees with Hal, it's hard to determine whether either prediction is hogwash.

The mercury hit 63 degrees Wednesday in Brookhaven and Islip, a record-high temperature for Feb. 1. And temperatures all winter have been mild.

Generally speaking, long-term forecasts are difficult, said Nelson Vaz, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Upton. But there's about an "equal chance of above normal and below normal" for the rest of the winter, he said.

"With the winter we've been having," Malverne Mayor Patricia Norris-McDonald said, "having six more weeks isn't bad."

With John Valenti,

Lauren Greco and AP