Every year on Groundhog Day attention turns to the tiny beasts to see if spring will come early or if we have six more weeks of winter to look forward to. A local groundhog, Malverne Mel, began forecasting in 1996, followed by Holbrook Hal three years later. Here is how they and two other groundhogs have done since then, with the correct forecasts shaded. “Actual results” are based on temperatures recorded at Islip from the beginning of February through March 20.
Holtsville Hal
56.3% accurate
Malverne Mel
52.6% accurate
Staten Island Chuck
57.9% accurate
Punxsutawney Phil
47.4% accurate
| Year | Holtsville Hal | Malverne Mel | Staten Island Chuck | Punxsutawney Phil | Actual results |
| 2015 | More winter | Early spring | More winter | ||
| 2014 | Early spring | Early spring | More winter | More winter | More winter |
| 2013 | More winter | More winter | Early spring | Early spring | More winter |
| 2012 | Early spring | More winter | Early spring | More winter | Early spring |
| 2011 | More winter | Early spring | Early spring | Early spring | More winter |
| 2010 | More winter | More winter | Early spring | More winter | Early spring |
| 2009 | More winter | Early spring | Early spring | More winter | Early spring |
| 2008 | More winter | Early spring | Early spring | More winter | Early spring |
| 2007 | More winter | Early spring | Early spring | Early spring | More winter |
| 2006 | More winter | Early spring | Early spring | More winter | More winter |
| 2005 | Early spring | More winter | Early spring | More winter | More winter |
| 2004 | More winter | More winter | Early spring | More winter | More winter |
| 2003 | More winter | More winter | More winter | More winter | More winter |
| 2002 | Early spring | More winter | Early spring | More winter | Early spring |
| 2001 | Early spring | Early spring | Early spring | More winter | More winter |
| 2000 | More winter | Early spring | More winter | More winter | Early spring |
| 1999 | Early spring | Early spring | Early spring | Early spring | Early spring |
| 1998 | N/A | Early spring | Early spring | More winter | Early spring |
| 1997 | N/A | More winter | Early spring | Early spring | Early spring |
| 1996 | N/A | More winter | More winter | More winter | More winter |