MN Weather: Why Are There So Many Worms Out Thursday?

MINNEAPOLIS — The National Weather Service in the Twin Cities sent out a satirical "worm warning" Thursday morning, but the underlying facts are no joke: there are a lot of worms out and about today.

Are you grossed out? Blame the rain.

After a strong rain, worms will come out of hiding and crawl up on the surface of your yard. Some might even end up getting lost, drying out, and dying on the sidewalk.

It's not entirely clear why, though.

According to one theory, worms come up to the surface to avoid drowning after a strong rain.

But that theory is heavily disputed, according to the CoolGreenScience blog. Earthworms don't have any lungs, so how can they drown?

Other theories include:

• Rain sounds like predators, specifically moles, so worms come out of hiding to "escape"
• A third theory says worms can cover more ground when it's wet out and thus can discover new terrority on the surface

Whatever the reason, be sure to heed the NWS' "worm warning" Thursday and watch where you step.