When to Expect Fall Colors to Start Showing
One of the most popular activities in the fall, of course, is leaf peeping. Now, the weather experts at The Weather Channel have put together some research on when to expect fall colors in certain areas of the country. People make serious trips and vacation plans based on when peak fall colors will pop in the area to which they’re traveling. I love beautiful, colorful fall foliage, but for me, it’s just a sign that winter is on the way. Even so, let’s live in the moment and look at when to expect peak fall colors across the U.S.
When to Expect Peak Fall Colors
So, what is the catalyst for peak fall colors and when they begin to start showing? The experts at Weather.com note that what begins to trigger leaves to change color from green to browns, oranges and yellows is the amount of daylight getting shorter and shorter. They add that when nights become colder and longer, that causes chlorophyll production to slow down and stop. The U.S. Forest Service notes that, “The carotenoids and anthocyanin that are present in the leaf are then unmasked and show their colors.”
What’s interesting is that while peak fall colors might take a while to develop in your area, there can still be some patchy areas of color, which Weather.com notes means some areas can start seeing colors in early September. I’ve already seen some patchy reds and oranges in my area, which does not make me happy. Seeing fall colors in August just doesn’t seem natural.
So, when should we expect peak fall colors across the U.S.? Let’s look at when areas around Boston, Detroit, New Jersey, Delaware, the Carolinas, Georgia and other areas of the U.S. are expected to turn. According to the weather experts, for the Rockies, northern Minnesota, northern Wisconsin, northern Michigan and part of northern Pennsylvania to upstate New York and northern New England, you can expect to see colors in late September and early October. For many parts of the Midwest, the South (but not too far South, because some very southern areas don’t get fall colors) most of the Northeast, you’re looking at the second half of October. For the mid-Atlantic coast, areas of the Deep South and Southern Plains, you’re looking at early November. A general rule of thumb is that the warmer the climate, the later the leaves change color. In contract, in the colder part of the U.S., the leaves change color the soonest. Reach out to me with your favorite fall foliage spots.
