New England
2017 Foliage Report | How a Heat Wave Can Stall Progression of Fall Color
How will the recent record-high temperatures affect when the leaves change color? Learn more in our latest New England fall foliage report.
By Jim Salge|Sep 28 2017|
You have to drive to far northern New England, like the Third Connecticut Lake in Pittsburg, NH for color right now.
Credit: Robert J. Kozlow
An unprecedented heat wave has stalled the progression of fall colors this week.
Credit: NOAA/NWSCredit: NOAA/NWS That temperature shortfall has been completely erased, and Burlington now sits at 3°F above average for the month — quite the swing. This bout of heat was particularly excessive. A heat wave is defined as three consecutive days with temperatures above 90°F. Burlington had an official heat wave whose three record highs supplanted previous records by more than 5 degrees each. And the water of Lake Champlain is 72°F, the warmest it’s been in autumn since records have been kept.
Heat waves are rare to unprecedented in Northern New England this time of year.
Credit: Mark DakmeidaCredit: Mark Dakmeida Northern Vermont isn’t the exception. Millinocket, Maine, hit 91°F this week following three days of temps over 85°F. Meanwhile, the overnight lows struggled to stay below the normal daytime high of 63°F. And at New Hampshire’s Mount Washington Observatory, where the record high is only 72°F, they’ve already seen temperatures in the sixties 10 times this month. And let’s be clear: This is not ideal for fall color in the most northern areas of New England.
2017 FOLIAGE UPDATE: HEAT WAVE STALLS FALL COLOR
We know that as the foliage season starts, the best colors are brought out by warm sunny days, cool nights and occasional and adequate rainfall — the exact opposite of what we are seeing right now. In response, the progression of fall color that we had been seeing in northern New England has stalled — in a holding pattern at best, and regressing at worst. Some of the early-turning leaves that were speckling the landscape with the brilliant reds we highlighted last week have browned and fallen; in the heat, little new color has emerged behind them. Thus there was still plenty of green all the way up to the Canadian border on my trip through New Hampshire this weekend, and we’re hearing similar reports everywhere.PREDICTIONS FOR NEXT WEEK
The good news is that by the time this piece is published, the heat wave will have broken; in its wake, a long stretch of seasonal weather has been forecast. There might even be some frost in northern areas by the weekend. With that, we should see the rapid acceleration of the fall pageant in the areas that typically turn first.
The peak of North Sugarloaf, NH has a bit of color this week, but more should come quickly.
Credit: Jon SecordCredit: Jon Secord We are hopeful that when this happens, the colors will come in strong and vibrant. But there is also a risk that the leaves will drop quickly after this hot, dry spell, especially given the lingering drought stress from last year. With this type of unprecedented weather, there’s little historical record for comparison to see where it goes from here. We just have to wait and hope. For those looking to get out and see some fall color this weekend, my advice is very similar to what I gave for last weekend. Areas in the far north with elevation are your best bet. Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom and the northern Green Mountains have held their color. Leaves should turn rapidly in New Hampshire’s Great North Woods. In Maine, the western mountains as well as the Crown of Maine will have picturesque spots.
You have to drive to far northern New England, like the Third Connecticut Lake in Pittsburg, NH for color right now.
Credit: Robert J. Kozlow
What do you mean when you say “the best colors are brought out by warm, cool nights”?
I think you must have misread. The article does not say “the best colors are brought out by warm, cool nights.” It actually says “We know that as the foliage season starts, the best colors are brought out by warm sunny days, cool nights and occasional and adequate rainfall — the exact opposite of what we are seeing right now.” At least that is the only reference I found about the color being brought out.