LEWISBURG — Central Pennsylvanians should stock up on rock salt and shovels, if the woolly worms’ predominately black, furry coats this season can be trusted.
Six judges convened Saturday at the 15th annual Woolly Worm Festival in Hufnagle Park to examine and measure dozens of caterpillars captured locally for the event, which is held to predict the coming winter weather.
Their predictions depend on the color and plushness of the worms’ black and brown fur.
“Woolly worms have magical powers,” said head judge Steve Connolley, who boasted about the critter’s 80 percent accuracy rate.
Awaiting the judging results was Anne Davis, of Lewisburg, who said she’s been impressed with past forecasts.
“When I moved from California two years ago I thought it would be freezing here and bought a big fur coat,” she said. “I didn’t need it much last year.”
Sheila Evans, of Milton, looks to the woolly worm every fall for an indication of the approaching winter weather.
“It’s usually right,” she said as one of the creatures moved slowly across her palm.
The mood was upbeat among the spectators as the judges conferred at the park gazebo and children played with the worms. Nearby, kids and adults enjoyed food, pony rides, a petting zoo and face painting.
Then Connolley delivered the miserable forecast under a warm October sun.
“It will be a severe winter with deep, deep, deep snow,” he said to loud groans.
The dismal weather report dimmed the smile on Davis’ face.
“That’s sad,” she said, brightening a little when she remembered she has a barely worn fur coat to keep her warm.
Organizer Kim Ritter said she was initially skeptical that the weather prognostication would take place.
Due to the wet, cold weather preceding the event, very few worms were emerging on the roads.
“We only had three worms last weekend, and we like to have 30. I was panicking,” Ritter said.
In the past few days, as temperatures rose and the rain stopped, Ritter and festival co-chairwoman Jane Kulish were able to capture nearly 100 in time for the event.
Despite the bleak weather prediction, festival co-chairman Ken Kulish summed up the event as an overall success.
“We were competing with a lot of other events, so I think we did very well,” he said.
