This year’s leaf-peeping season should be spectacular
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Mingo Creek County Park is known for its covered bridges, which look stunning set against fall foliage, as seen in this file photo from last year.
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
A tree begins to change color in this file photo from 2022.
Observer-Reporter
Leaf-peeping season is about to get underway in Western Pennsylvania, and the weather is expected to bring vibrant colors this year.
Observer-Reporter
A pedestrian walks down South Main Street past a tree in full fall foliage in this file photo from 2018.
On a drive along Interstate 79, one might notice that in some places, the leaves on the trees are shifting from rich summer greens to bright yellow hues.
Autumn this year officially begins tomorrow, and while some got a jumpstart celebrating pumpkin spice season, those eagerly awaiting leaf-peeping season, the original fall vibe, are in for a treat this year.
“What we’re really looking for for a good foliage season is, essentially, a fairly seasonable summer followed by a period in the fall (with) warm days and cool nights. That’s when we get the most brilliant colors. We started off the summer a little bit dry – that might slightly affect the colors,” Colton Milcarek, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service Pittsburgh, said.
But, “it looks favorable right now for color.”
According to the Farmers’ Almanac, Pennsylvania’s fall foliage season will peak Oct. 5 through 21. Folks can expect the colorful splendor of autumn to grace landscapes in Washington, Greene and Fayette counties about that time, Milcarek said.
Last year, colors started to pop in Washington, Greene and Fayette counties between Sept. 29 and Oct. 5, according to the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ foliage report, with peak color between Oct. 13 and 19.
This year’s weather patterns are similar to last year’s, so leaf peepers should plan their drives, nature walks and other outdoor activities for early to mid-October. Local landscapes will be dressed in shades of burnt orange, brilliant red and cheerful yellow then, and this year’s show could last longer than 2023’s fall foliage display.
“The overall pattern for color looks a little bit better,” Milcarek said.
Eastern North America is one of three regions globally that boasts the forestry necessary for especially colorful autumns (the other two are the British Isles and parts of northwestern Europe, northeastern China and northern Japan).
Pennsylvania has the longest and most varied fall foliage display in the world, according to the DCNR.
Among the best places to take in changing leaves are the Laurel Highlands in Fayette County, the Jessop Boat Club in Greene County and Mingo and Cross Creek County parks in Washington County.
While all signs point to a robust and colorful autumn, unpredictable weather patterns could disrupt the grandeur, Milcarek said.
“The two things that we’ll be keeping an eye on going forward that will affect the color will be if it remains dry. Drought can make colors a little bit less vibrant. We’ll be monitoring to make sure we don’t have any large wind events; that can knock a lot of the leaves off the trees before full color develops,” he said. “That’s not really on the forecast.”
Neither are October heat waves, which can mute leaves’ color or delay color onset, Milcarek said.
The conditions look right for a picture-perfect autumn. For weekly fall foliage reports, visit the DCNR’s website at https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/Conservation/ForestsAndTrees/FallFoliageReports/Pages/default.aspx. Reports will be updated every Thursday beginning Sept. 28.