Weather

Fall in NC expected to be brighter, more colorful this year

This year, fall in the North Carolina will be brighter and more vibrant, according to a recent report from AccuWeather.

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By
Maggie Brown
, WRAL multiplatform producer

It's almost autumn, which means crisp air, sweater weather, pumpkin patches and warm apple cider is among us. The start of meteorological fall officially began on Sept. 1 and the Triangle has already had a taste of that fresh autumn air this week.

There's good news about fall weather this year: foliage in North Carolina will be brighter and more vibrant, according to a recent report from AccuWeather.

Leaves are expected to be more spectacular this year compared to last year, meteorologists say.

“Last year, trees became stressed later in the summer in parts of the Northeast due to a couple of extended periods of dryness,” said AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Forecaster Paul Pastelok. “As a result, there were early leaf droppings, and the brightness was OK, but not great.”
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The biggest factor influencing fall weather this year is La Niña, a climate phenomenon that contributes to an increase in Atlantic hurricane activity. La Niña is causing rain and thunderstorms to be more possible in September and October associated with tropical systems, meteorologist say. It's going to stay warm until early October in our region, which could delay the onset of fall foliage. But those colors will be worth the wait, experts say.

When is the best time to travel to the mountains this year?

Conceived by Howard Neufeld and Michael Denslow
Map Constructed by Michael Denslow

Experts say if you head to the mountains anytime from the last week of September into the first week of November you're going to catch the kaleidoscope of colors nature offers.

The best fall colors will be in areas that have short days, bright skies and cool nights. Areas that are more cloudy and wet could have foliage that is not as bright.

Color will first start in the highest mountains on the Blue Ridge Parkway in September, like Mount Mitchell and Grandfather Mountain.

If you're traveling in October, here's what the NC High Country Host Regional Visitor Center says:

  • Fall leaves will reach their peak on Beech Mountain, Banner Elk or anywhere else from 4,000 to 5,000 feet of elevation in the first two weeks of October.
  • Boone, Blowing Rock and Price Lake, and anywhere else at 3,000 feet of elevation will reach their peak in the third week of October
  • If you're planning a mountain trip in the fourth week of October, local experts say to travel somewhere at 2,000 feet of elevation like Wilkesboro or Stone Mountain State Park.

However, elevation is not the only factor in fall colors. Experts with Appalachian State University explain that some cooler areas may peak earlier than expected.

"In other words, the same elevation in the north is cooler than the same elevation in the south, which causes the vegetation to differ," experts Howard Neufeld and Michael Denslow wrote. "The resultant cooler temperatures mean that peak fall colors will come earlier to those same elevations in the north than in the south."

Golden autumn hues frame the Boone Fork Bridge, located near mile 299.9 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Although the bridge itself is still closed due to flood damage from this past spring, the Boone Fork area is beginning to pop with fall color. With temperatures continuing to drop, the color change is becoming much more prevalent with each passing day. For more Grandfather Mountain fall color photos, or to plan a trip, visit www.grandfather.com. Photo by Skip Sickler (Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation)

Record-setting rain could affect fall foliage

In drier areas, experts say there could be excellent fall conditions. But for most of eastern North Carolina, tropical activity has caused record levels of rainfall.

Wet weather influences how much red shows up in the leaves, AccuWeather experts say. In Haywood County and parts of the North Carolina mountains, Tropical Depression Fred dumped up to 10 inches of rain.

If windy, tropical activity were to hit North Carolina mountains this fall when foliage is expected to peak, it could impact how strong the displays are.

How it will feel this fall

Climate Central, an independent organization of leading scientists and journalists that research and report the facts about our changing climate, show that fall temperatures are trending in an upward direction. Since 1970, our area's daily average temperature has increased by 2.2 degrees. In 1970, we had roughly 40 days above normal from September to November. Now, we are roughly seeing 50 days above normal in that same time period.

September in central North Carolina will likely have a handful of days where temperatures are in the 90s and upper 80s, according to AccuWeather. October should be cooler, but there will still be a number of warm days.

Fall foliage in western parts of the U.S.

In areas that have experienced drought conditions this year, like parts of the West, fall foliage will not be as bright.

A lack of rain will cause many trees, especially shallow-rooted ones like maples or birches, to go into survival mode, "shutting down" early and preparing for winter, CNN's meteorologists report.

Mild drought levels can trigger more vibrant colors, though experts don't expect this will happen.

CNN reports that some locations will probably see fall colors earlier than usual this year, and they won't last as long as previous years.

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