Punxsutawney Phil says more winter; Staten Island Chuck says spring is coming

STATEN ISLAND, New York (WABC) -- There's a disagreement between the rodents.

Staten Island Chuck did not see his shadow this Groundhog Day. "Spring is on the way!" it was declared.

Meanwhile, Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania predicted six more weeks of winter.

Public Advocate Letitia James oversaw the ceremony in New York after Mayor Bill de Blasio stayed away for a second straight year.

The mayor also did not attend last year, citing his campaigning for Hillary Clinton in Iowa.

He infamously dropped Chuck in 2014, and the next year, was separated from the groundhog by plexiglass.

Members of Punxsutawney Phil's top hat-wearing inner circle revealed their "forecast" at sunrise Thursday.

The festivities have their origin in a German legend that says if a furry rodent casts a shadow on Feb. 2, winter continues. If not, spring comes early.

In reality, Phil's prediction is decided ahead of time by the group on Gobbler's Knob, a tiny hill just outside Punxsutawney.

Records dating to 1887 show Phil has now predicted more winter 103 times while forecasting an early spring just 18 times - including last year. There are no records for the remaining years.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.