This year’s fall foliage is bringing brilliant shades of red, orange and yellow to parts of the United States, especially in some of the country’s most popular leaf-peeping destinations.
The first signs of the seasonal change typically appear in northern and mountainous areas before gradually spreading south, according to AccuWeather.
For much of the United States, October is the height of foliage season. Vibrant colors are sweeping across the Northeast, Midwest and West, dazzling the eyes of leaf-peepers. However, the southernmost states may not see their best displays until mid-November.
Where autumn leaves are peaking
"The most vibrant colors through this weekend will be across the valley locations of interior northern New England and upstate New York," said AccuWeather Senior
Meteorologist Brett Anderson.
"Farther south, peak color will be found in the Berkshires of Massachusetts, the Catskills of NY, the Poconos and the Allegheny forest of NW Pennsylvania. Peak color also expected over the highest elevations of West Virginia. In the Upper Midwest, expect peak color over the northern half of Wisconsin," Anderson said.
Explore fall's map highlights where fall foliage is expected to reach peak color and begin transitioning across much of the United States in mid- to late October. Here's a state-by-state fall prediction breakdown:
Autumn colors are developing "on schedule" this year according to Anderson, with the upper Midwest and interior Northeast seeing especially vibrant displays and above-average color conditions.
As the season progresses southward, above-average temperatures could slow the arrival of fall color, according to Anderson. Drought conditions stretching from Virginia to the Carolinas and across Tennessee may further dull autumn displays by increasing tree stress and triggering early leaf loss.
Why leaves change color in fall: The science of autumn colors
Have you ever wondered how leaves get their amazing colors in the fall?
As fall days get shorter, leaves begin shutting down their chlorophyll production. Since chlorophyll is what gives leaves their green color, its breakdown allows other pigments that have been there all along, called carotenoids, to take center stage, painting trees in bright shades of yellow, orange and brown.
Warm, sunny days can also boost the production of anthocyanins, pigments created from sugars in the leaves that add brilliant reds and purples to the autumn landscape.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fall foliage map shows when autumn colors will reach their peak
