November 7 , 2007

The foliage season is rapidly drawing to a close. Temperatures in many areas have been dipping below freezing and measurable lake effect snow has fallen in portions of western New York and extreme northwest Pennsylvania. Fall foliage can still be found in much of eastern Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, downstate New York, New Jersey and much of Pennsylvania. Most of these areas are reporting peak color with the exception of extreme southeast Pennsylvania and the southern one-half of New Jersey where color change is high. As stated in past reports, there is/was no true peak of foliage color. This is mostly due to a very warm September, resulting in foliage change that was very much out of sync. Even now, there are many trees that are still green and many that have shed all of their leaves. The recent cold temperatures will make it difficult for the green leaves to change to bright fall colors. Elsewhere in the region, peak has passed in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, much of upstate New York, western Massachusetts, northwest Connecticut and extreme northern Pennsylvania.

The remnants of Hurricane Noel recently moved up the Atlantic coast, bringing it with it heavy rain and gusty winds to much of eastern New England. As a result, leaf drop increased. Leaf drop is high to nearly complete in those locations that have past peak. All other areas are reporting leaf drop that is moderate to high.

Next Report: Saturday, November 10, 2007