10/26/2026
BILLY HAS SPOKEN: YOUR 2026–2027 WINTER FORECAST IS HERE!
A hint of snow for Christmas, our biggest snowfall in January, and a mostly mild winter after that? That’s the outlook from Billy, our championship woolly worm from the 39th annual Lee County Woolly Worm Festival!
Billy raced his way to the championship in downtown Beattyville, earning the honor of delivering this year’s winter prediction!
According to woolly worm folklore, the 13 bands along a woolly worm’s body represent the 13 weeks of winter. Brown signals milder weather, while black points to colder temperatures and harsher winter conditions. Here’s how we’re reading Billy’s forecast:
CHRISTMAS WEEK: A LITTLE WINTER MAGIC?
Winter begins December 21, and Billy has just a few black bristles at his very tip. Our interpretation? A brief taste of winter during that first week, December 21–27, possibly bringing cold temperatures or a light dusting of snow.
Could Billy be hinting at a white Christmas? Maybe! Those few dark bristles leave a little room for Christmas wishes, but they don’t suggest a major snowfall or much accumulation.
JANUARY: THE BIGGEST WINTER WEATHER SIGNAL
Billy’s strongest signal for harsh winter weather appears near the end of the third week and into the fourth week of winter. That puts the window around January 10–17, 2027, just ahead of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
According to our reading of Billy’s bands, this could bring the season’s most significant winter weather and our largest measurable snowfall. If Billy has one stretch he wants snow lovers to watch, this is it!
WEEKS FIVE THROUGH THIRTEEN: A MILDER FINISH
After that January stretch, Billy’s remaining bands look much more favorable. His mostly brown coloring through weeks five through thirteen suggests a milder pattern for the rest of winter, with fewer harsh conditions.
Will our champion get it right? Only winter can tell! This forecast is a beloved festival tradition rooted in mountain folklore, and Billy has officially made his prediction.
Thanks to everyone who joined us for the 39th annual Lee County Woolly Worm Festival. Keep this forecast handy, and let’s see how our little champion does!
Billy has spoken. Now we wait for winter!
