Fall Foliage Forecast: Here's How Vibrant The Leaves Will Be In MD

More states are expected to see vibrant fall foliage this season compared to last year, while lackluster and dull autumn colors are expected on trees across some fall tourism hotspots, according to a new forecast.

On Wednesday, AccuWeather released its fall foliage forecast for 2025. Vivid fall colors are expected across parts of 25 states, while dull fall foliage is predicted to span through 23 states, the forecasts says.

“There will be drastic differences in fall foliage across this country this year,” AccuWeather lead long-range expert Paul Pastelok said. “We expect vibrant colors across much of New England and the Midwest this autumn. Don’t wait too long to check out the leaves as they approach peak color. The fall foliage may not last very long this year.”

In Maryland, AccuWeather forecasters said leaf-peepers should expect typical autumn colors, while communities in the Blue Ridge Mountains are likely to see dull foliage.

Peak color should arrive in the Baltimore region by late October to early November.

Pastelok said unfavorable weather conditions earlier this year, along with bugs and tree disease, will contribute to dull fall foliage in other parts of the country.

“You can blame heavy rainfall and flooding this spring and summer for dull colors in the Appalachians and the Smoky Mountains. Insect and fungus damage can occur across southwest Pennsylvania, western Maryland and Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, extending to Mississippi and Alabama from heavy rain. This can lead to duller colors and early droppage of leaves,” Pastelok said.

While no predictive tool or forecast is 100 percent accurate, it can give leaf peepers a pretty good shot at seeing autumn leaves when they turn their most blazing reds, vibrant orange and sunny yellows.

The weather can have a big effect. Leaves need warm, sunny days, but also crisp but not freezing nights to bring about the most spectacular color show. Both rainfall and drought can also affect its vibrancy, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Where you live is also a factor, but early to mid-October is a good bet in much of the country, especially in New England.

Leaf peepers can also use a predictive tool from Explore Fall. Click on the state you want to visit, then use the slider tool to determine the best time to visit. It’ll show where travelers are most likely to see “high color” and “peak color,” and when the foliage is past its prime.

What Causes The Different Colors?

You may remember from science class that the color change all starts with photosynthesis. Leaves constantly churn out chlorophyll — a key component in a plant’s ability to turn sunlight into the glucose it needs to thrive — from spring through early fall. Those cells saturate the leaves, making them appear green to the human eye.

But leaves aren’t green at all. Autumn is the time for leaves’ big reveal: their true color, unveiled as chlorophyll production grinds to a halt. The colors in fall’s breathtaking tapestry are influenced by other compounds, according to the national park’s website.

Beta-carotene, the same pigment that makes carrots orange, reflects the yellow and red light from the sun and gives leaves an orange hue.

The production of anthocyanin, which gives leaves their vivid red color, ramps up in the fall, protecting and prolonging the leaf’s life on a tree throughout autumn.

And those yellows that make you feel as if you’re walking in a ray of sunshine?

They’re produced by flavonol, which is part of the flavonoid protein family. It’s always present in leaves but doesn’t show itself until chlorophyll production begins to slow.

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