What to expect as fall foliage season unfolds across the US
Fall brings one of the season's most anticipated sights as the leaves begin to change colors, and millions venture out to see nature's art show in full display.
The timing and intensity of fall foliage in the coming weeks depend on a combination of factors, including temperature, precipitation and soil moisture, which can vary each year across different parts of the country. These factors, among others, determine when the leaves change and how vivid the colors will be.
In the Northeast, the forecast is quite promising for a spectacular season, experts told ABC News.
"The Northeast is actually shaping up to have a really great season this year, and that's coming on the tail of a couple of rough fall foliage years," Evan Fisher, owner and founder of Explore Fall, a website that provides resources to track fall foliage, said.
Drought was a major factor behind shorter and less vibrant fall foliage in the Northeast in both 2024 and 2025. However, this year much of the region has been able to overcome drought conditions, except in parts of New Hampshire and Maine.
"Last year, the trees went to bed thirsty. And when we woke up this spring, the snowpack that had stayed on the ground all winter went into the soil slowly," said Jim Salge, a fall foliage reporter for Yankee Magazine. "We have really nice, healthy forests now."
For much of the Northeast, peak fall foliage occurs in early October. However, closer to the coast, peak conditions typically unfold later in the month.
In the West, fall colors are already being reported across parts of Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Montana and Idaho. On average, these areas are typically the first parts of the country to see fall colors and peak intensity each year. However, prolonged heat and drought conditions are causing this year's peak to come a little ahead of schedule.
Drought conditions will also impact this season's fall color in parts of the Upper Midwest. "Once you get up into the North Woods of Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, there's some really severe drought in that region," Fisher added. "Unfortunately, that has a negative effect on the fall vibrancy, but it can also result in some chaotic fall colors."
The Upper Midwest also tends to see peak foliage in early October, on average.
Average peak fall foliage times are extremely useful for planning a fall foliage trip. "Past performance is a picture of future behavior," Richard Harper, extension professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst specializing in Community Forestry and Urban Landscaping, told ABC News.
Fall foliage forecasting depends heavily on local weather conditions, so foliage conditions can vary significantly over short distances. Beyond timing and intensity, temperatures can also influence what colors are prominent in an area.
"High temperatures in the 60s with low temperatures in the 40s is really that perfect recipe to draw out the reds in the trees," Fisher added. "Many folks don't know this, but those red hues are not naturally there in the tree. They have to be created in the fall with the right weather conditions. Otherwise, the fall foliage will just end up being more yellow in nature."
In the Northeast, fall foliage conditions could also be impacted by a fall nor'easter or tropical storm remnants, which could bring heavy rain and strong winds. By the end of the week, a nor'easter could affect parts of the region, particularly New England. If it does occur, its early timing would likely limit its impact on this season's fall foliage.
"I think the potential for this nor'easter is well timed. I think it's early enough along the coast that we aren't going to have a huge amount of loss of leaves," Salge added.
Sky conditions, like a bright blue sky or cloudy sky, can also influence how the fall colors are perceived in a particular area.
"I've heard people say it's a great fall, and that very same person the next day says, I'm really not seeing the color that I want to see. And of course, in the back of my mind, I'm thinking, well, you're probably looking at it through a different lens, if you will," Harper noted.
