When Will You See Changing Fall Colors?

Millions of people every year make it a goal every fall to witness the beautiful changing of leaves. Timing is key, as see peak season is when trees are at their maximum brightness. It’s a challenging feat, considering the date on which leaves reach their peak brightness varies from year to year.

The seasonal variants have to do with the many factors that play into why the leaves change in the first place, and much of that has to do with the weather.

Temperature and moisture play a huge role in when the tree colors will really pop

Leaves need warm, sunny days with cool, clear nights to maximize their color.

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The amount of rain an area receives leading up to fall can determine the brightness of leaves and the arrival of peak season.

“A late spring, or a severe summer drought, can delay the onset of fall color by a few weeks,” according to the U.S. Forest Service.

If there is an intense warmup during fall, it can impact the brightness of the leaves, making their color appear more dull.

(For even more granular weather data tracking in your area, view your 15-minute details forecast in our Premium Pro experience.)

Ideal weather conditions for bright, beautiful fall leaves

• Spring: warm and wet
• Summer: favorable (not too hot or too dry)
• Fall: warm, sunny days/cool nights

These ideal conditions may seem like a lot to ask, considering how volatile our environment can be. But each year, certain pockets of our country put on a show with the most mind-blowing hues of fall color.

Length of night plays a role in leaves changing color

One of the main drivers in leaves beginning the process of changing color has to do with the shorter days and longer nights. As the seasons start to change, and nights grow longer, leaves begin the process of shutting down and eventually falling to the ground.

We know that chlorophyll converts sunlight into energy, allowing trees to grow and thrive. Once the days become shorter, this process begins to slow. Eventually, trees stop the production of chlorophyll altogether.

This allows other colors within the leaf that were being masked by the chlorophyll to now show through, and show off.

Different species of tree contain different molecules, resulting in different colors. For example, leaves that contain carotene will display orange tones, while leaves that contain xanthophyll will display beautiful yellow hues.

Where fall color is currently changing

If you're itching to grab some pumpkin spice and venture out in search of beautiful fall color, there are a handful of places across the Western U.S. that are already experiencing a change in color.

East: As of now, no locations in the Eastern US are experiencing any significant change in color.

West: In the West, fall color is patchy. Parts of the Rocky Mountains are already seeing a change in color, but there are still plenty of spots where there has been no observed change in color. Parts of the northern and central Rockies may reach peak foliage as early as mid-September.

Many of the Forest Service's 100-plus National Scenic Byways were planned with autumn color in mind. Almost every one of them offers a beautiful, colorful drive sometime in the autumn.

Track fall foliage across the country here.

Hayden Marshall is a meteorologist intern and First-Year Master's Student at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He has been following weather content over the past three years as a Storm Spotter and weather enthusiast.