A man shared a video today of a wooly worm in Illinois. What he didn't realize is he also might have provided the key to how bad (or not) the upcoming winter in Illinois will be.

You might laugh at this notion, but even the National Weather Service acknowledges the importance of the woolly bear caterpillar. Pay special attention to the position and length of the black bands on this little guy.

The National Weather Service says that folklore can predict the severity of the winter by the black bands. The longer the black bands on the woolly worm, the harsher winter in Illinois will be. Lore says you can also tell whether the beginning of winter or the end of winter will be worse. On the other hand, the wider the orange band in the middle is, the milder winter will be.

With that in mind, let's look at this Illinois woolly worm.

Gavin Glass via YouTube
Gavin Glass via YouTube
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According to this woolly worm, the start of Illinois' winter will be the coldest with most of winter being mild, though. There also appears to be a cold snap at the end (looking at you next March).

For what it's worth, the National Weather Service doesn't endorse the woolly worm's Illinois forecast. They say the bands have to do with the woolly worm's age and feeding habits. Yes, they are party poopers.

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Gallery Credit: Canva

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