Drought May Impact PA Fall Foliage, AccuWeather Says

PENNSYLVANIA — Fall foliage in Pennsylvania may be muted from past years due to the ongoing impacts of drought-like conditions throughout the region, according to AccuWeather's predictions for the 2022 season.

The first day of fall is Thursday, a time many Americans start planning fall foliage excursions. Persistent drought conditions may dull the leaves in some areas known for their brilliant foliage, while timely rains in other parts of the country promise to deliver colorful displays to leaf peepers.

Pennsylvania, which currently has 36 counties under a drought watch, is likely to have more trees that turn brown and crispy early in the year, and lack some of their typical color.

Perfect conditions to set up the vivid yellow, reds and oranges associated with fall are cool air and ample summer moisture, followed by cooler, drier falls, according to Paul Pastelok, the lead long-range weather forecaster for AccuWeather.

Below are AccuWeather’s fall foliage predictions for other regions in the country:

Northeast and New England: Despite the dry conditions likely impacting most of the area, New England isn’t a total bust. Travelers planning to visit Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and northern New York should put off their trips until the second or third week of October to see the leaves at their pinnacle. Typically, leaves peak in late September and early October in that part of the country.

Great Lakes and the Upper Midwest: In general, the peak season may be a little late but worth the wait across the Upper Midwest, Great Lakes and parts of the Ohio, Tennessee and Mississippi valleys, according to Pastelok.

Leaves may fall sooner than usual with the arrival of strong cold fronts with gusty winds across Minnesota and Michigan, he said, noting the fall foliage peak is expected in late September in places such as the Superior National Forest in northern Minnesota.

Rocky Mountains and Northwest: The bright yellow leaves of the aspen trees in Colorado high country will be “better this year,” Pastelok said.

In the northern Rockies and interior Northwest, consistent, ample moisture since winter will make for vibrant colors this year, he said, adding Bighorn National Forest in northern Wyoming is a good place to visit this year.

For more specific information, check out the full AccuWeather fall foliage forecast.

To zero in on fall foliage changes at the county level, check out the handy 2022 Fall Foliage Prediction Map from SmokyMountains.com.

Credit: SmokyMountains.com