2018 Foliage Report | New England Color in a Holding Pattern as Cool Weather Approaches
How does a holding pattern affect when the leaves change color? Learn more in our latest New England fall foliage report.
By Jim Salge|Sep 27 2018|
This past weekend, Pittsburg, NH, buy the Canadian border, was atypically green.
Credit: Max McClaskieCredit: Max McClaskie This wasn’t necessarily unexpected. The forecasts (including mine) were for heat and humidity to continue longer into September than normal this year for a number of reasons, including El Niño. But for the foliage visitors arriving from all over the world, eagerly expecting autumn awesomeness, a holding pattern is less than ideal. Still, it was an absolutely beautiful weekend in New England, with subtle changes all around. Single trees changing color caught our eye, and migrating hawks soared through bluebird skies. It was a great weekend for hiking, or for taking the boat out one last time. Orchards are open, farms are full of the late summer’s harvest, and local fairs and festivals are popping up everywhere.
It was a beautiful weekend in New England, despite the green look to the landscape.
Credit: Jim SalgeCredit: Jim Salge The color will come. When, though, is a tough question! Here are our thoughts on the week ahead and where to find the best color now.
WHERE TO FIND COLOR & LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK
We know that the most vibrant colors emerge when we have warm, sunny days and cool, crisp nights. And we also know that when we get the right conditions, there can be very noticeable changes overnight, with a race from largely green to nearly peak in a week or less — especially when the foliage displays are already late. And after a sharp midweek cold front plowed through New England, bringing classic cool, crisp autumn air, we think the colors will come in quickly. For those looking to go leaf peeping and find this beautiful emerging foliage, the best advice is to drive north and up in elevation. All of the areas mentioned earlier — the Northeast Kingdom, the Great North Woods, etc. — should be seeing a rapid increase in bright colors in the forest, and there will likely be plenty of time to see it this year.
While the majority of the forest is green, wetlands are showing early color
Credit: Phillip ForsythCredit: Phillip Forsyth We also expect a wider swath of northern New England to reach peak at the same time this year, as this cooler weather kick-starts the change. This could allow for many great photo opportunities from high peaks and roadside overlooks where you can see great distances and wide-ranging terrain. Lastly, the cooler weather will also bring misty mornings and photogenic valley fog. Wetland areas tend to have both early fall color and concentrate foggy conditions.
Cool Temperatures and Warm Water Make For Moody Mornings This Time Of Year
Credit: Jim Salge
