North Carolina's fall colors are coming. Here's when to see them

The latest: Fall foliage is pretty minimal right now in Western North Carolina, according to travel brand smokymountains.com's 2026 fall foliage map. Color will pick up across the state over the next five weeks, particularly in mid-to-late October. Keep in mind, things can change quickly.

What they're saying: "While we've been sweltering in the 90s in Charlotte most of September, it has been a bit cooler (70s & lower 80s) in the mountains and that's helping to bring just a hint of color in the highest elevations around Boone and along the Blue Ridge Parkway at this time," says Al Conklin, Chief Meteorologist with our news partners WBTV.

Zoom in: Temperatures at night have been fairly mild in the mountains, Conklin says. Meaning they're seeing temperatures in the 50s rather than the necessary lows of the 40s or 30s to spur on a visible change.

Zoom out: North Carolina has struggled with drought conditions this year. Charlotte remains roughly 8 inches below normal rainfall year-to-date, Conklin says, but the mountains have seen more precipitation.

What we're watching: If temperatures remain warm, you may see duller red leaves, according to Conklin. Warmer temperatures could also delay some trees, such as maple trees, from turning. Plus, increased temperatures could result in overall a less vibrant display compared to prior years.

The bottom line: As long as there isn't another big heat wave in October, Conklin expects decent color this season.

Go deeper: 24 fun things to do in and around Charlotte this fall