The fall equinox is approaching, and with it, the beautiful colors of the season!
Besides cozy sweaters and warm drinks, one of the best parts of fall is enjoying the gorgeous changing leaf colors in the brightest reds, oranges and yellows.
And this year, it will be easier than ever to tell when the leaves will be changing. I LOVE NY has brought back their annual Fall Foliage Report and is releasing weekly reports throughout the season!
The week 1 report for September 12 – 17 shows leaves just beginning to change in Upstate, including areas like the Adirondacks and the Catskills.
For NYC, leaf spotters won’t have any luck this week (or for the next few) as there’s currently no change to observe. Peak foliage in NYC tends to appear closer to late-October.
According to the map in previous years, NYC tends to be one of the last areas to reach peak foliage. Last year’s was no different with NYC peaking during the map’s 8th and last week.
The detailed map includes findings from over 85 field observers and reflects expected color conditions for the coming weekends across New York State. Plus, you can see which regions are the perfect places to travel to for a lovely fall getaway.
Within each report, compiled by Empire State Development’s Division of Tourism (I LOVE NY), volunteer leaf-spotters share everything from predominant leaf colors to approximate percentage of change to how much color change has progressed relative to peak conditions in each region of the state.
See last year’s color progression with the video below:
“Fall is a popular season for New York weekend getaways and last-minute escapes, as the temperatures cool and the trees develop a vibrant and colorful canopy,” Empire State Development Vice President and Executive Director of Tourism Ross D. Levi shared. “I LOVE NY’s fall foliage reports are one of the most popular and engaging tools for residents and visitors alike looking to plan a seasonal trip.
With such a long and diverse season, it’s the perfect time to find what you love and come be a part of all the fall excitement in New York State.
The foliage doesn’t peak for long so be sure to check back in weekly with us as we’ll continue to add updates.