50 mins ago - Science

Fall foliage mapped: When to see peak colors

Leaf-peepers, mark your calendars: Fall color is expected across most of the country by mid-October, according to a map on Explore Fall.

Zoom in: Peak foliage is expected to sweep south over the next several weeks.

On Oct. 16, the brightest color is projected to be concentrated across the northern Rockies, Upper Midwest and northern New England.

By Oct. 30, a broad band from the central Rockies to the East Coast should be at or near peak.
On Nov. 6, much of the northern U.S. will be past peak, with the strongest color shifting south.

Yes, but: Weather could scramble the timetable.

A strong El Niño could raise temperatures and delay some peak colors, according to the National Weather Service.
Drought conditions — which persist in parts of Maine and the Upper Midwest, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor — could also mute colors.