Reports of raining worms go back centuries, appearing in folklore, news clippings, and even scientific journals. While it might sound like pure myth, historical records suggest that this bizarre event has occurred in different parts of the world at various times. In 1872, a newspaper in Sweden described worms falling during a sudden storm. There are also accounts from Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, often linked to unusual weather patterns.
These strange phenomena have typically been reported after heavy rainfall or strong winds, leading early observers to believe the worms somehow originated from the sky itself. Of course, nature doesn’t simply produce airborne annelids. Even before modern science offered plausible explanations, people speculated about supernatural causes, divine messages, or even spontaneous generation—an outdated theory suggesting organisms could arise out of nowhere.
One particularly well-documented case occurred in 1921 in Minneapolis, where eyewitnesses saw worms littering sidewalks and streets after a violent storm passed through. More recently, in 2015, residents in Norway were baffled when thousands of worms were found strewn across pristine snow-covered landscapes, seemingly materializing from nowhere. No logical explanation was immediately available, fueling curiosity and speculation.
Though it’s tempting to dismiss such an event as a hoax or exaggeration, the consistency of reports across different times and locations suggests there is something more at play. The question remains: how do these creatures actually end up falling from the sky?
Scientific explanations and theories
Scientists have attempted to demystify the phenomenon of raining worms, and while no single explanation fits every recorded case, there are a few compelling theories. The most widely accepted idea involves strong winds or meteorological events lifting the worms from the ground and carrying them over long distances before dropping them seemingly from nowhere.
One possible culprit is waterspouts—tornado-like columns of rotating air that form over bodies of water. These natural whirlwinds have been known to lift lightweight creatures such as fish, frogs, and even small crustaceans into the air, transporting them far from their original location. While worms are typically found in soil rather than water, similar updrafts from intense storms could theoretically scoop them up from moist ground and deposit them elsewhere when the winds subside.
Another frequently cited explanation involves birds, particularly those that prey on worms. Some scientists suggest that flocks of birds might accidentally drop clumps of worms mid-flight, either due to losing their grip during a struggle or regurgitating them in response to stress. This could account for why worms sometimes appear in areas where no immediate weather event has taken place.
Localized wind phenomena, such as dust devils or small whirlwinds, also offer a plausible explanation. These mini-tornadoes can form quickly and powerfully enough to lift lightweight objects, including insects and worms, from the ground. In cases where raining worms have occurred on calm days without preceding storms, these invisible air currents could be responsible.
Despite these scientific theories, certain cases remain frustratingly difficult to explain. The 2015 Norway incident, where worms were discovered on top of untouched snow, challenges the idea of storm-related transportation. If strong winds had carried them, why weren’t other debris or particles found alongside them? Such unsolved mysteries keep the debate alive, leading some researchers to continue investigating this strange phenomenon with fresh curiosity.