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 released their ninth and final report of the season!
The week 9 report for November 9th – 15th shows beautiful peak foliage across Manhattan, Brooklyn and Staten Island. Northern regions of NYS such as the Adirondacks, the Catskills, Finger Lakes, Greater Niagra, and Capital-Saratoga have been past-peak for a few weeks now as NYC tends to be the last region to peak.
But after nine long weeks, it’s finally time for peak foliage in NYC. According to foliage spotters, the UES and UWS can expect peak colors ranging from gold, purple, yellow to red at 75% leaf change. Parts of Central Park are still peaking while some areas are past-peak.
Neighborhoods like Crown Heights and Prospect Heights can expect bright yellow leaves with 70% color change, while Williamsburg and Greenpoint are expected to be past-peak with 90% leaf change this week.
On Staten Island, Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Gardens, Silver Lake Park and Clove Lakes Park predict peak colors with 85% change in addition to “heavy leaf droppage.”
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 won’t be peaking for long so be sure to head out and see it before it’s gone. As for their weekly fall foliage updates on their website here, we’ll just have to wait until next year!