Foliage Update: Foliage Season Coming To An End

The first weekend of November is here, and chances to see the the brilliant colors of fall are coming to a close across much of the country. 

Colors have peaked for most across the northern U.S. and are nearing peak across much of the Midwest into the Mid-Atlantic states. 

With the shorter days and cooler temperatures, these help to limit the trees’ ability to make chlorophyll, which is a pigment that helps keep leaves green, and will lead to the leaves turning an assortment of colors like red, orange, yellow and purple.

Certain trees have a different makeup that causes them to turn into warmer colors across a longer stretch of time compared to other species of trees. Maple trees for example typically exhibit these warm tones more quickly compared to oak trees. Dry weather can also significantly affect the appearance of leaves. On one hand, these fall colors can last longer, but the drawback is that these colors will be less vibrant. Stay in touch with drought conditions in preparation for any autumnal sightseeing excursions!

Colors throughout most of the Northeast into the central Applachians into the eastern Ohio Valley are now past peak. While there can still be pockets of brilliant colors to be found, leaves are falling from the trees. 

Colors across the Mid-Atlantic region into the southern Applachians and into the Midwest are nearing peak colors. This weekend may be your best chance to view the fall colors before leaves begin to brown and drop from the trees. 

Over the course of autumn, WeatherBug Meteorologists will provide an outlook on the foliage conditions across the eastern two-thirds of the U.S. This will include an updated map of conditions and details of these great colors. WeatherBug will also give some suggestions of roads to take for a leaf-peeping road trip, and a forecast for the weekend so you can know what to expect as you visit the colors.