October 17 , 2007

The amount of fall color is finally picking up across the region. This year's foliage progression is running well behind that of previous years. Much of that is most likely due to the warm temperatures experienced in much of September and early October. This emphasizes how the weather can play a significant role in the timing of the foliage change.

Foliage color has passed peak in northern Maine, the higher elevations of northern New Hampshire and northeast Vermont and the higher elevations in northeast New York. Peak color is spreading from the central one-third of Maine into the lower elevations of northern New Hampshire and into much of Vermont. Portions of northeast New York and the higher elevations of New York's Catskill Mountains are also at peak. In southern Maine, much of southern New Hampshire, western and southeast Vermont, northern New York, New York's Southern Tier, and portions of northern and southwest Pennsylvania are reporting high color change. Other locations reporting high color include portions of the Berkshire Mountains in western Massachusetts, the Litchfield Hills of northwest Connecticut, locations in southeast Connecticut and extreme northwest New Jersey.

Other areas in the region are reporting mostly moderate color with the exception of extreme eastern Massachusetts, downstate New York, southeast Pennsylvania and much of New Jersey where color change remains low.

Leaf drop is moderate to high in areas past, at, or approaching peak due to some recent windy conditions. Other areas are reporting low leaf drop.

This information provided by Marek D. Rzonca, The Foliage Network.

Next Report: Saturday, October 20, 2007