STATEN ISLAND, NY — The deep freeze is almost done! In the midst of the coldest snap of this winter, Staten Island’s groundhog Chuck woke from his slumber and wandered out of his burrow to give New Yorkers some good news.
There’s only six more weeks before spring arrives.
The furry meteorologist failed to see his shadow at Staten Island Zoo this Groundhog Day which, lore dictates, means an early finish to winter.
The prognosticator, who boasts a higher accuracy rating than his more famous rival Punxsutawney Phil, called for the early spring for the fourth year in a row. This is his 38th forecast.
His prediction was matched by his Pennsylvania rival who also failed to see his shadow and called for an early spring.
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Chuck survived another Groundhog Day unharmed as de Blasio skipped the ceremony for the fourth year in a row.
During his first Groundhog Day ceremony in 2014, de Blasio dropped Chuck — later revealed to be a stand-in Charlotte — when he took her out of the burrow. She died a week later from internal injuries.
Image: Nicholas Rizzi/Patch