These Fall Foliage 2025 Weekly Forecast Maps Show When, Where Colors Will Peak

It’s still several weeks before fall foliage reaches peak brilliance in most of the country, but several predictive maps can take some of the guesswork out of planning fall leaf peeping tours.

No predictive tool is 100 percent accurate, but 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.

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.

New England Foliage Is Legendary

New England’s typically crisp but sunny autumn days, cool nights and consistent moisture intensify the legendary fall colors in the hardwood forests. The leaf-peeping season is long due to the region’s varied topography, starting in the northern mountains and moving south. The rolling hills, coastal views and charming historic villages are all perfect backdrops for the changing leaves.

La Niña, which typically brings wetter cooler weather, has ended and the tropical Pacific is now in a neutral state — neither La Niña nor El Niño, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s climate.gov, which expects the climate-neutral pattern to last through fall.

Yankee magazine’s NewEngland.com said drier weather, combined with warm, sunny days and crisp, cool nights, could make for ideal leaf-peeping conditions throughout the region — that is, if the Atlantic hurricane season doesn’t complicate the outlook.

“The dream scenario would be to have such storms stay off the coast, dragging cool, dry air down from farther north and kick-starting fall,” the outlet said.

Other States Are Glorious, Too

Other states shouldn’t get the short shrift in fall foliage tour planning, though.

According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac’s predictive map, foliage will begin to change in northern tier states, the West and the Midwest by late September, and by Oct. 4, some leaves will be past their prime.

The weekend of Oct. 11-12 is a good time to head to New England or the Pacific Northwest to see leaves, the site said. Mid-October is the best bet to see foliage at its most brilliant in the Blue Ridge Mountains. If you’re headed to the Smoky Mountains, early November may be the ideal time.

The competing Farmers’ Almanac offers a state-by-state guide of peak dates, as well as the top leaf-peeping destinations. Check out the outlet’s picks:

• Northeast
• Midwest/Great Lakes
• Southeast
• North Central.
• South Central.
• Northwest
• Southwest

To 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.

The vacation rental site SmokyMountains.com said its well-regarded predictive map will be live on Sept. 3.

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.

See Also

• Fall Skywatching Dates To Know For Meteor Showers, Supermoons And More

• As Fire Pit Season Heats Up, Here Are Some Dos and Don’ts: Block Talk

• How To Choose Patch As A 'Preferred' News Source In Google Search