New York Fall Foliage Report – Week of Sept. 20-26, 2017

 

New York Fall Foliage Report

Gorgeous Fall Color Rapidly Advancing in the Adirondacks and Catskills

Higher elevations to see near-peak conditions this weekend

This is the second 2017 Fall Foliage Report for New York State. Reports are obtained from field observers and reflect expected color conditions for the coming weekend. Fall Foliage Reports are issued every Wednesday afternoon.

Week of Sept. 20-26, 2017

Beautiful fall colors are rapidly emerging in the higher elevations of the Adirondacks and Catskills regions, with some areas expecting near peak conditions this weekend, according to volunteer observers for Empire State Development’s I LOVE NEW YORK program.

In the Adirondacks, spotters in Essex County reporting from Lake Placid are expecting near peak conditions this weekend with up to 85 percent color change in the higher elevations of the High Peaks, and midpoint of color change, at 60 percent, in the village area. Look for moderately brilliant shades of orange, yellow, gold, maroon and red. Spotters reporting from Whiteface Mountain in Wilmington expect foliage to be approaching midpoint of change with 35 percent color change and increasingly higher amounts of red, yellow, orange and purple leaves. Leaf peepers in Schroon Lake project 30 percent color change by the weekend with red, orange and yellow leaves of average brilliance. In Crown Point, spotters expect 15-25 percent color change, with more fall color in elevated areas. The leaves are still predominantly green with increasing amounts of golden yellows, and some shades of orange and russet, starting to appear.

Foliage reporters checking in from the Tupper Lake and Mt. Arab areas of Franklin County predict the rapidly transitioning leaves to reach 65-70 percent color change by weekend as warm days and cool nights spur the changes in color. Look for midpoint to near peak leaves of cranberry, copper, mustard, goldenrod and russet. Saranac Lake spotters are expecting near peak conditions with 65 percent color change. Look for rich shades of red on the red maples and a variety of orange and orange-red hues on sugar maples, with birch leaves turning yellow. Leaf peepers in Malone predict 20-25 percent color change with plenty of bright orange and yellow leaves.

Foliage is predicted to be around midpoint of change this weekend in the Speculator area of Hamilton County. Look for an average of 50 percent color change with mostly muted shades of red, yellow and orange emerging from the still predominantly green backdrop. Spotters in Inlet are expecting more than 50 percent color change and midpoint to near peak foliage by the weekend. The mostly dark colors include burnt oranges, reds and burgundies. In Long Lake, observers expect the foliage to be at midpoint, with 40-45 percent change by the weekend. Look for muted shades of dark red, along with some newly appearing shades of yellow.

Foliage is near peak in Old Forge, Herkimer County. Expect 75 percent color change this weekend with bright shades of red, orange and yellow. In Warren County, look for up to 20 percent or more color change in the northern portion with a few bright reds, yellows and rusts. The southern portion of the county is still mostly green with random shades of yellow and red popping up.

In the CatskillsDelaware County spotters predict midpoint to near peak conditions this weekend, with 50 percent color change and mostly muted shades of gold. In higher elevations the colors are brighter. In the Northern Catskills, spotters reporting from above 1500′ in Greene County expect up to 40 percent transition and foliage at midpoint of change by the weekend. Look for mostly yellow and orange leaves of average brilliance. In Lanesville, foliage spotters expect 25-35 percent color change with brightly colored leaves beginning to show in patches. Predominating fall colors are shades of amber, yellow, salmon and some red. Fall color is reported to be higher in the Tannersville and Hunter areas. Spotters in Catskill expect 15 percent color change for the upcoming weekend with some yellow and orange leaves of average brilliance.

In Ulster County, at Belleayre Mountain in Highmount, look for 30-40 percent color change and midpoint conditions as the transition picks up pace. Fall colors include a mix of muted shades of red, yellow and brown. In Kingston, spotters expect 15 percent transition with quickly changing dull-to-average brown, yellow, orange and burgundy leaves. In Sullivan County, expect 20 percent color change with yellow, red and purple leaves of average brilliance.

In the Capital-Saratoga region, Fulton County spotters in Northville at Lapland Lake Nordic Vacation Center predict that the foliage will be near midpoint of change by the weekend with 35-40 percent color change and average shades of red, yellow and orange with some purple. In Schenectady County, expect less 20 percent color change by the weekend with some bright yellow leaves, according to spotters in Glenville.

In Central New York, foliage is changing quickly in Otsego County. Spotters in Cooperstown project the foliage will be at midpoint of change with 40 percent color transition and a beautiful mix of bright red, orange and yellow leaves. Foliage is at midpoint of change in Mohawk, in Herkimer County. Expect 40 percent color change and bright red and orange leaves overtaking the green. In Chenango County, spotters reporting from Norwich project midpoint conditions with 35 percent color change and vibrant shades of red and orange.

In Utica, in Oneida County, look for 25-30 percent color change by the weekend with muted gold and yellow hues accented by subtle hints of orange and red. In Madison County, spotters in Morrisville expect 20 percent color change by the weekend. Leaves are still mostly green, along with some shades of yellow and orange, and a little red. Spotters reporting from Howes Cave in Schoharie County expect just 15 percent color change this weekend with some bright red, orange and yellow leaves beginning to appear. In Binghamton, color change is still in the early stages. Look for 15 percent transition by the weekend with dull to average fall colors of red, yellow and light green.

In the Finger Lakes region, color change is coming on strong in the Elmira area of Chemung County. Look for up to 50 percent color change and midpoint conditions by the weekend with bursts of orange leaves of average brilliance along with hints of yellow and slight subtle shades of red slowly coming in. In Seneca County, look for 25 percent change with some yellow leaves of average brilliance on smaller trees. In Steuben County, spotters in Corning expect 20 percent color change with some shades of gold, yellow and orange leaves of average brilliance.

Foliage change will be around 15 percent for Cayuga County this weekend. Look for touches of orange and red leaves of average brilliance beginning to appear. In Livingston County, spotters in Geneseo expect 10-15 percent color change. Trees are still predominately green, with some yellow and red leaves beginning to appear. Spotters in Rochester expect less than 15 percent color change with average to bright fall colors of red, dark red, and russet, along with some yellow and orange. In Tompkins County, Ithaca spotters predict 15 percent color change with red, purple, yellow and orange leaves of average brilliance beginning to appear over the predominately green backdrop.

In the Chautauqua-Allegheny region, Cattaraugus County spotters at Allegany State Park expect 25 percent color change this weekend with dull yellow and red leaves on maple and ash trees breaking through the green backdrop. Spotters based in Little Valley predict 15 percent color change with touches of gold and rust leaves of average brilliance starting to appear. In Chautauqua County, spotters in Chautauqua project 10-15 percent color change. Foliage is still primarily green in the northern and southern portions of the county and up to 25 percent changed in the higher elevation middle portion. Fall colors are mostly orange and yellow.

In the Greater Niagara region, Genesee County spotters in Batavia expect 10-15 percent color change with average to bright touches of red starting to appear. Wyoming County spotters in Perry expect 15 percent color change with shades of red, yellow and orange beginning to appear.

In the Thousand Islands-Seaway region, St. Lawrence County spotters in Canton expect 30 percent color change with bright touches of red, yellow and orange. In Jefferson County, Alexandria Bay spotters predict 25 percent color change this weekend with average shades of yellow and red. Look for 25 percent color change in Oswego County by the weekend. The northern end of the county features average hues of orange, red and some yellows, while the southern portion is exhibiting dull shades of rust and burgundy.

In the Hudson Valley, color change will be around 20 percent in Orange County, according to spotters in Goshen. Look for shades of deep red and golden yellow beginning to pop against the green. Fifteen percent color change is forecast for Columbia County. Expect mostly green leaves with touches of orange and yellow. In Rockland County, in the New City area, look for about 15 percent color change.

The rest of the state expects 10 percent or less color change.

Author: Harlem Valley News