Summertime still has a few weeks to go but there are signs that fall is on the way. That may not be especially welcome news but at least this fall should be looking good!
AccuWeather.com has just-released a fall foliage guide and predicts the most vibrant display of fall color will occur in the mid-Atlantic region which includes central Pennsylvania.
However, according to a news release, other parts of the country may be in for a disappointing season thanks to less-than-ideal weather conditions.
“Most important is really what happens at the end of September and beginning of October into the middle of October,” says Marc Abrams, a professor of Forest Ecology and Physiology at Penn State. “That’s really the crucial period.”
Abrams has been observing how weather conditions affect fall foliage more than 25 years.
The AccuWeather.com fall forecast calls for near-normal temperatures and precipitation for the mid-Atlantic region. And that should produce plenty of bright, colorful leaves in our area.
The northeast, which is typically one of the most popular areas for leaf peepers, may disappoint this year.
Temperatures are predicted to stay 2 to 3 degrees above normal in New England. Lead Long-Range Forecaster for AccuWeather.com Paul Pastelok says, “That’s going to be problematic. It’s going to delay the peak coloration, and normally when we have warm falls the peak coloration is not the best.”
“A frost helps to bring out the color. What happens is that the chlorophyll – which causes the green color of leaves – starts to break down. This basically exposes the other pigments like red and orange,” says Abrams.
Elsewhere, floods in the southeast will probably tone down the colors in that region. Much of the west is struggling with drought — and that can also have a negative impact on the fall foliage.
Beginning in late September, VisitPA.com will be keeping track of areas that offer peak fall foliage viewing opportunities.
AccuWeather was founded by Joel Myers. His son, Dan Myers, is president of Lazerpro Digital Media Group, the parent company of StateCollege.com.
