When to expect peak fall foliage in Georgia
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It may feel like we're in the thick of summer — but it's never too early to map out when Georgia's fall foliage will hit its peak this year.
The big picture: The fall color change starts in the North and high elevations in the U.S., before making its way South, according to travel brand SmokyMountains.com.
Zoom in: We'll start to see very minimal changes in foliage in extreme north Georgia around Sept. 29.
- By Oct. 13, patchy foliage changes will begin to appear across metro Atlanta while small areas near the border with Tennessee, and North and South Carolina, will be partial and near peak foliage.
- Near peak status will move into metro Atlanta by the end of next month and will reach peak foliage around Nov. 3.
Yes, but: The Climate Prediction Center's latest seasonal outlook prediction of warmer-than-average temperatures could delay foliage change in much of the country, Axios' Alex Fitzpatrick reports.
- Mountainous regions and areas with cooler-than-usual forecasts — like northern New England, the Adirondacks and the Poconos — could see peak colors on the early side, according to forecasts.
Between the lines: SmokyMountains.com uses historical weather reports, tree species info and user data to put together 2025 foliage prediction maps of the U.S.
What we're watching: The Georgia Forestry Commission will release its Leaf Watch report later this year to highlight which parts of the state are seeing the most dramatic changes.
- In the meantime, bookmark this list of the most popular state parks where you can see fall foliage changes.