Think fall leaves are changing early this year? You’re right. Here’s why (photos)

A scene from Mt. Jo in Lake Placid showing fall colors on Sept. 14, 2024.

Tyler Bowles | @tylertbowles on Instagram Tyler Bowles | @tylertbowles on Instagram Sunny Hernandez | ahernandez@nyup.com They say time flies, but if you are feeling like fall foliage colors in Upstate New York are on fast forward, you’re right. Leaves all over the state are transforming ahead of schedule, some a whole month earlier than usual.

Photographers have been posting photos of autumnal hues appearing in their backyards and in New York state parks, well ahead of fall’s official arrival this weekend on Sept. 22. ILOVENY , the state’s tourism website provides a weekly fall foliage forecast each year.

They released their second map of the season on Wednesday, showing most of the state in the “just changing” stage of their fall colors. Some spots, like Wanakena in the Adirondacks, are already past their midway point to peak. I LOVE NY’s fall foliage forecast for the week of September 18-24, 2024.

Provided photo | nyup.com Provided photo | nyup.com A look at last year’s map from the same time period paints a different story.

Much of the state was experiencing no change when fall arrived in 2023. I LOVE NY’s fall foliage forecast for the week of September 20-26, 2023. Provided photo | nyup.

com Those peak fall foliage prediction maps, based on historical data, could be slightly off this year unless we get a significant amount of — rain. Autumn’s color story depends on green chloroph.