BOSTON, MA — For people around New England, feet of snow and waves of heat end with a payoff: bursts of colors draped over the landscape in the form of fall foliage. This year's leaves are predicted to be especially beautiful, and the peak time for viewing, when the colors will be most vivid, is fast approaching.
Not all fall foliage seasons are created equal. Sure, most leaves change color and eventually crinkle and die. But there are different levels to the aesthetics and duration of the foliage season. Yankee Magazine, which released its fall foliage forecast Friday, says the signs point to a wonderful 2017 fall foliage season.
"It's the most optimistic forecast I've had in a couple of years," the magazine's Jim Salge told The Associated Press. Salge said all that's left for a fabulous fall is getting some of the usual New England weather leading up to it, meaning a bit of rain bit not too much.
Forecasts project above-average temperatures and average precipitation over the next couple of months, according to Yankee Magazine. That warm, dry weather with lots of sunshine and cool nights means brighter colors.
The leaves in New England turn earliest in the farthest northwest reaches of the in the region. There are reports from every New England state except for Connecticut and Rhode Island that some leaves have already begun to turn.
Love local news as much as you love leaves? Find your local Patch and subscribe for free news and alerts!
Here's a look at what regions will be experiencing peak season during different points in the fall. This forecast is taken from this nifty tool you can utilize to see when and where the best foliage is taking place!
Late September
Peak foliage season for Northern New England will be late September. At that point Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Southern New Hampshire will still be in the early stages. You'll also have plenty of festivals and apple-picking opportunities to choose from.
Second week of October
All of New Hampshire should be in peak foliage season by the second week of October. That's when the North Shore of Massachusetts will also have entered peak season. Columbus Day weekend is a top time to take in foliage from around New England.
Mid-October
Eastern Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut will be firmly in peak foliage season by mid-October. Peak season is over for just about all of Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire, save for the southernmost regions. Leaves are beginning to fall fast up there; you'll want to hurry.
End of October
The last remnants of peak season in Southeastern Mass. and Rhode Island will last until about the last week in October. This is the last big rush of leaf-peepers to Southern New England.
Looking for help planning your trip northeast? Here are some of the top places to stay if you hope to make the most out of the experience, courtesy of travelchannel.com.
And did you know you can call a state's fall foliage hotline to see when may be a good a time to peep some leaves?
Massachusetts: 1-800-227-6277
Rhode Island: 1-401-222-2601
New Hampshire: 1-800-258-3608
Maine: 1-888-624-6345
Vermont: 1-802-828-3239
Photo by Petr Kratochvil via Public Domain Pictures
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Boston, MA Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.