BANNER ELK, N.C. – The Woolly Worm race went virtual this year. For the first time in 43 years, The Avery County Chamber of Commerce says it had to make the tough decision to cancel the race due to COVID-19.

What You Need To Know

  • The woolly worm issued its winter prediction this year after racing up a string

  • There were only two racers this year, the Kiwanis Club and the Avery County Chamber of Commerce

  • This year's worm predicted a snowy, cold winter

At the event, the worm that races up the string fastest predicts our winter weather. The worm has 13 body segments for 13 weeks of winter. Each color determines the weather that week.

They decided to this year have a race virtually between the Chamber and the Kiwanis Club. The Chamber Charger won that race and predicted a pretty snow winter, especially during those first four weeks and last two of the season.

Chamber Executive Director Melynda Pepple says the festival brings in thousands of people and gives a lot of money back to the community so canceling it was not easy.

"This is our first year that we had to pull back and make some hard decisions, but good decisions for our area, and what I thought about since the weather was so beautiful. I bet it would have been crowded, a lot of people here," Pepple says.

The Woolly Worms full prediction:

First four weeks – below normal temperatures and cold
Weeks five to seven – average temperatures
Week eight – below average temperatures with light snow or frost
Week nine to 10 – average temperatures
Week 11 – below average temperatures with frost or light snow
Week 12 to 13 – below average temperatures and snow