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 | [email protected] 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 chlorophyll breaking down to reveal those beloved yellow and orange pigments which were hiding underneath all summer long. This stretch of dry weather days is speeding up the degradation process of those green pigments.
“Because of shortening day lengths, because of cooler night temperatures, but mostly because of the dry conditions we’re having, it’s allowing that chlorophyll to unmask those underlying colors much more quickly,” said Donald J. Leopold, a professor at State University College of Environmental Science and Forestry. According to the National Weather Service, September has been dry, with just 0.
8 inches of rain so far. That’s less than half the normal amount through Sept. 18.
Since 1985, Leopold has been teaching the oldest and largest Dendrology, the study of trees, course in the U.S. He thinks about trees a lot, especially this time of year, he said.
Fall colors begin to pop at Lucifer Falls at Robert Treman State Park in Ithaca, NY on Sept. 19, 2024. Stephanie B.
| @steph_ann_ee on Instagram Stephanie B. | @steph_ann_ee on Instagram By his observation, trees with a restricted root system, such as those by roadsides, in front of schools, residential yards or other limiting factors like mountain cliffs are the ones transitioning early from their summer greens to their colorful confetti pigments. “I’m seeing trees that for 30-40 years don’t peak until third week of October and they’re showing colors already, a full month earlier,” he said.
For those who planned leaf peeping trips to the Adirondacks or the Catskills with historically peak dates in mind, Leopold thinks the colors should still be there — unless this dry stretch continues for longer than anticipated. “If there’s another week of no rain, it will really accelerate trees losing their green color really quickly here,” he said. Colors pop early around Heart Lake at the Adirondack Mountain Club on Sept.
15, 2024. Joe Serio Photography | @photos_by_jserio on Instagram Joe Serio Photography | @photos_by_jserio on Instagram The weather forecast looks clear through Monday, but that chlorophyll saving rain is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday and Wednesday. As for how brilliant our fall colors will be this year, Leopold said it comes down to the variation in tree species we have in New York and clear, sunny days.
“This whole process is at least 50 percent biological and 50 percent meteorological,” he said. The more cloudy weather that happens, the more muted the colors will be. Leopold said the best fall colors come after very cool nights and clear sunny days.
Lucky for us, September has mostly fit the bill. Only two days were considered cloudy so far this month. Fall colors appear at Letchworth State Park in Upstate NY earlier than usual.
Seen on Sept. 18, 2024. Jessica | @justjessss_photo on Instagram Jessica | @justjessss_photo on Instagram Though the trees may be peaking a little earlier this year, Leopold said he’s enjoying the early show.
These clear days are perfect for keeping the leaves on the canopy as long as possible. Don’t wait too long however, he warned, because when they’re gone, you’ll have to wait a whole full year to see them again. See more photos below of current conditions around Upstate New York.
Autumn colors fall over Mt VanHoevenberg in North Elba, just outside of Lake Placid on Sept. 18, 2024. William Adamczak | @wadamczakphotoon Instagram William Adamczak | @wadamczakphoto on Instagram Hot air balloons fly over Middle Falls in Letchworth State Park in Western New York.
Brandon Sprung | @sprungphotography on Instagram Brandon Sprung | @sprungphotography on Instagram Views from a hike up Algonquin, New York's second tallest mountain, located in the Adirondacks. Taken weekend of September 14, 2024. Julien Lebreton | @julienl on Instagram Julien Lebreton | @julienl on Instagram Colors pop early around Heart Lake in the Adirondacks on Sept.
15, 2024. Joe Serio Photography | @photos_by_jserio on Instagram Joe Serio Photography | @photos_by_jserio on Instagram Fall foliage pops in Keene, NY in the Adirondacks, weekend of Sept. 14, 2024.
Kristi Brennan | @kelhiker on Instagram Kristi Brennan | @kelhiker on Instagram Mt. Arab fire tower in Tupper Lake showing fall colors on Sept. 14, 2024.
@adkman99 on Instagram | Provided photo @adkman99 on Instagram | Provided photo Fall foliage pops the week of Sept. 15, 2024 on Rooster Comb Mountain in the Adirondacks. Peter Hewitt | @petehewy on Instagram Peter Hewitt | @petehewy on Instagram The view of the fall foliage from Castle Rock in Garrison, located in the Adirondacks, taken on Sept.
14, 2024. Karina Benninger | @kb.hikes on Instagram Karina Benninger | @kb.
hikes on Instagram Fall foliage as seen on September 15, 2024 in the Adirondack High Peaks region in Upstate New York. William Adamczak | @wadamczakphoto on Instagram William Adamczak | @wadamczakphoto on Instagram Photo taken at the edge of Heart Lake on Sept. 15, 2024 in the Adirondack Mountains.
William Adamczack | @wadamczakphoto on Instagram William Adamczack | @wadamczakphoto on Instagram Syracuse.com reporter Glenn Coin contributed to this story. Follow NYUp.
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