NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Staten Island Chuck, the weather-predicting groundhog at the Staten Island Zoo, did not see his shadow on Sunday morning and is forecasting an early spring for 2025. “We appreciate you all coming out on a cold day,” executive director of the Staten Island Zoo Ken Mitchell said. “Chuck appreciates it, and all our animals here…support Chuck all year round.”
Chuck emerged from his habitat at the zoo as a large group of cold-bearing onlookers watched him go against the national grain. Chuck’s forecast is in opposition to Punxsutawney Phil, who saw his shadow at Gobbler’s Knob in Pennsylvania, predicting six more weeks of winter.
According to data from the NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Chuck is the most accurate of the United States’ Groundhog Day forecasters with an impressive 85% accuracy rate. Comparatively, Phil—the longest-running weather-predicting groundhog and beloved national celebrity—is only right 35% of the time. This makes him the 17th most accurate groundhog forecaster of the 19 ranked, according to the data.
“...an accuracy rating of 35% is just criminal,” Staten Island District Attorney Michael McMahon said, taking a dig at Phil. “It’s my job to prosecute any and all crimes occurring in our borough, and Punxsutawney Phil is lucky to be outside of Staten Island shores.”
The Staten Island Zoo also announced students from nearby Susan E. Wagner High School will step up as “weather checkers” over the next 45 days to determine if Chuck—or Phil—is actually accurate.
On Long Island, Chuck's counterparts, Holtsville Hal and Malverne Mel, also predicted six more weeks of wintry weather after seeing their shadows. This leaves Chuck as the lone forecaster pushing for warmer weather, marking this year’s Groundhog Day as one filled with conflicting predictions.
This quirky tradition provides locals and tourists alike with entertainment and engagement, underscoring the spirited competition among the groundhogs of the East Coast. While we often regard weather forecasting as serious business, these furry forecasters remind us to take it all with a pinch of humor—whether they see their shadows or not.
The anticipation built up with each yearly prediction continues to fan the flames of debate and excitement surrounding spring's arrival. Will Chuck's prediction of early spring truly hold? Residents of Staten Island, and weather enthusiasts across the nation, are eager to find out as they patiently wait for the promised change of seasons.