As the first day of fall nears, attention turns to the vibrant, gorgeous colors that trees' leaves will soon be sporting.
The autumnal equinox, the astronomical start of fall, is Sept. 22. So, sweater weather, pumpkin patches, spooky decor, pumpkin spice lattes and everything that comes with the autumnal season are around the corner, including fall foliage.
Most areas of the U.S. will have peak colors between late September and mid-October, according to AccuWeather. The exact timing depends on location and varies from year to year based on the weather conditions leading up to autumn.
Ready for fall? Here's when you can expect to see hues of red, orange and yellow this year.
Cincinnati's peak fall foliage could arrive later in the season
The timing of fall foliage could vary just as much as the quality of the colors,
AccuWeather meteorologist Brian Lada said in an online report. When it comes to the Ohio Valley, Lada said warmer conditions "could delay the season change."
"Warm days across the Ohio Valley and portions of the Mississippi Valley may push leaf drop back by a couple of weeks, while warm days and nights in the Northwest could delay the change by about a week," he said.
Based on AccuWeather's peak fall foliage color map, it appears much of Ohio, including the Cincinnati region, will see its peak fall colors in mid-October.
When will the leaves change color in Greater Cincinnati?
According to an interactive 2026 fall foliage prediction map from SmokyMountains.com, Greater Cincinnati will begin to see minimal change in leaf colors near the end of September and beginning of October. The region will be past peak colors by Nov. 3.
As of mid-September, the fall foliage prediction map showed no change in leaf colors for much of the U.S., and minimal to patchy and partial leaf change in mostly northern states that border Canada. The tool is not exact but was built as a guide for travelers to plan trips and have the best opportunity to see peak fall colors in certain areas of the country.
Here are more specific dates for when we might begin to see changes and peak leaf colors around the Cincinnati area:
- Minimal change: Around Sept. 29
- Patchy change: Around Oct. 6
- Partial change: Around Oct. 13
- Near peak colors: Around Oct. 20
- Peak colors: Around Oct. 27
- Past peak colors: Around Nov. 3
When will the leaves change color in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana?
The Farmers' Almanac also predicts the area will see peak fall colors during October, with more specific dates depending on the region. Here are the probable dates:
- Ohio: Oct. 5-21.
- Kentucky: Eastern Kentucky, Oct. 5-21; Western Kentucky, Oct. 12-28.
- Indiana: Northern Indiana, Oct. 5-21; Southern Indiana, Oct. 12-28.
When does fall officially arrive?
Fall will begin on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, when we reach the autumnal equinox (also known as astronomical fall), according to Old Farmer's Almanac.
Ohio Valley's fall weather prediction
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released its three-month weather outlook for September, October and November last month. What does it predict for Ohio's autumn weather?
According to NOAA, all of Kentucky and almost all of Ohio will have a 50-50 chance of experiencing typical fall temperatures. The exception is a tiny corner of northeast Ohio near the Pennsylvania border, which will have a 33-40% chance of experiencing above-normal fall temperatures.
The average temperature in Ohio from September to November historically ranges from 50–58 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information.
USA TODAY contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Map shows Cincinnati peak fall color timeline, but falling leaves may be late
