Fall color 2023: Here's when and where to see leaves change in NC
Fall has officially begun, which means signs of fall will start to appear soon. Depending on where you are in the state, you might see these signs sooner than others.
Why do leaves change color?
As the seasons change, temperatures get cooler and nights are longer, which means trees get less sunlight.
The lack of sunlight causes the chlorophyll within the leaves to break down. Chlorophyll is a compound that makes leaves green. The lack of chlorophyll reveals the orange, yellow, red and sometimes purple pigments underneath.
The cooler the air, the more vibrant the leaves' color. Sunlight and temperature play a role in how the sugars in leaves contribute to color production. Depending the these conditions, leaves could turn a bright red or purple color. Oaks and some maples trees tend to be reddish to purple in color. Depending on the tree, the leaves may or may not change color.
When will you see leaves change in NC?
Some parts of western NC have already started to see fall colors in their trees. Those living in western NC will tend to see these changes sooner due to the higher elevation. In the North Carolina mountains, leaves begin to change in late September to mid-October. Counties in central and eastern NC won't see leaf changes until early November.
High temperatures impact leaves' ability to change, which could delay the changing of colors or make the foliage not as vibrant.
WRAL Meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner gave specific times when different parts of North Carolina might experience fall changes:
Last week of September (elevations above 5,000 ft)
- Grandfather Mountain
- Mt. Mitchell
- Great Smoky Mountain
First two weeks of October (elevations between 3,000 to 5,000 ft)
- Boone
- Blowing Rock
- Beech Mountain
- Sugar Mountain
Last two weeks of October (elevations 1,000 to 3,000 ft)
- Asheville
- Appalachian Trail
- Blue Ridge Mountain
- Black Mountain
- Hendersonville
First two weeks of November (most of Central NC)
- Research Triangle
- Fayetteville
- Greensboro
- Charlotte
- Rocky Mount
Mid November (coastal region)
Where are fall leaves most colorful in NC?
Some of the best places to see fall colors in North Carolina are west of the Triangle, in the mountains.
Gardner highly recommends going to the Blue Ridge Parkway that spans over 400 miles and captures the beauty of the mountains especially during the peak fall season. This includes towns like Boone, Asheville and Blowing Rock which will see peak fall foliage between October to early November.
