VIDEO: Malverne Mel Makes Early Visit to Village

We won't know until Thursday whether Malverne Mel will forecast an early spring but the groundhog did make an early visit to the village Tuesday night.

Okay, so it wasn't the real Mel, but rather his 6-foot mascot who was spotted waving at cars along Hempstead Avenue and greeting commuters coming off the evening trains. Watch the video above.

To see the real furry forecaster, you'll need to come to Malverne's Groundhog Day celebration on Feb. 2 at 7 a.m. in Is this mild winter we're having foreshadowing an early spring? Only Mel will tell but you make your prediction by voting in .

Check Patch Thursday morning for a report on Mel's forecast.