Where to Find the Best Fall Foliage in the US This Year
Drought and wildfire stress could put a damper on the fall foliage in the Rockies and some portions of the East, while New England and portions of California will shine. Here is a look at where you should head this fall to see Mother Nature in all of her glory.
Where to Expect the Colors to Pop This Fall
The fall foliage season is going to be a bit of a mixed bag this year in the U.S. While some areas of the country will explode with colors, other zones will have a poor showing.
Most parts of the country will see the peak colors between late September and the middle of October. The precise timing depends on elevation, location, and recent weather trends.
A wet late spring and early summer paired with drier conditions at the end of the summer is likely to make it a great year for viewing the colors in New England and upstate New York. The Midwest and the Cascade Mountains in the Pacific Northwest are also forecast to see dazzling colors this far. The exception will be in the interior portions of the Northwest, a region where long-term drought and ongoing wildfires will dull the display.
Heading down the coast, California is also expected to put on a show this season. This is particularly true for the Sierra Nevada and Northern California.
Where Fall Colors May be Muted
Leaf peepers will likely find a different story in the Rockies. Last year's exceptionally dry winter has amplified the drought in this part of the country, translating to stressed vegetation that will have a harder time holding color. As a result, the iconic Aspen trees that dot the landscape of Colorado are not expected to be as bright as in the past.
Moving farther east, portions of the mid-Atlantic and the Carolinas have also been victims of the drought. Although more rain in recent weeks may help to provide a bit of spark for the fall foliage season, some of the trees are past the point of return.
In addition, the Southeast and the lower Mississippi Valley are also not expected to be as colorful this year. The forecast for a wet start to the fall season will keep the leaves greener for longer. The lack of cool and dry nights will dull the colors even further.
The impacts of the drought will also play a part in the timing of when the leaves begin to change. Trees that are experiencing stress may lose their leaves earlier than usual. This includes the zone from Georgia to the north into New Jersey, as well as across most of the Rockies.
Conversely, warmer weather in the Ohio Valley, the Mississippi Valley, and the Northwest may delay the annual turning of the leaves by a few weeks. The rest of the country should expect to see the colors change at about the typical time.
Weather changes fast, so help your community stay prepared. Share this story with friends, family, or your group chat, and keep your forecast in the now with Weather Forecast Now.