Color Change Still in Early Stages throughout Most of New York State

Week of September 26–October 2, 2018

This is the third 2018 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.

Gorgeous fall colors at the midpoint of change have arrived in some areas of the Adirondacks region, according to observers for the Empire State Development Division of Tourism’s I LOVE NY leaf-peeping program. Projected colors throughout the rest of the state are expected to remain at the early stages of change through the weekend.

In the Adirondacks, foliage will be at the midpoint of change this weekend in Saranac Lake in Franklin County, with more than 50 percent color transition expected. Look for red, orange, and yellow leaves of average brilliance. Spotters in Tupper Lake expect 45–50 percent color change this weekend, with muted colors. A rosy, golden glow marks the landscape with the leaves slowly transitioning to goldenrod, saffron, russet, pumpkin, scarlet, and cranberry. In Malone, foliage spotters expect a 20 percent color change, with dashes of gold, orange, and red leaves of average brilliance appearing. In Old Forge, Herkimer County, 35 percent color change is predicted for the weekend, with burgundy, red, and orange leaves of average brilliance emerging.

In Essex County, spotters reporting from Wilmington and Whiteface Mountain expect color changes ranging from 10–25 percent this weekend with shades of red, along with hints of yellow, emerging. Leaves are of average brilliance. In Lake Placid, spotters expect 10–15 percent color change as the landscape is still very green, with occasional gold, yellow, and red showing across Mirror Lake and Lake Placid. Spotters reporting from the Lake Champlain Visitors Center in Crown Point expect 15–25 percent color change by the weekend, with more of the change occurring in elevated areas. Look for average to subdued shades of golden yellow and russet. In Ticonderoga, look for 10–15 percent color change with yellow and orange-red leaves of average brilliance continuing to appear. Spotters reporting from Lake Pleasant in Hamilton County expect 15 percent color change this weekend, with some muted to average shades of yellow and red popping out. Color change in Warren County will range from 10–20 percent; with the most significant transition taking place in the northwestern portion. Johnsburg and North Creek are reporting some shades of red emerging; red is the dominant fall color in Hague.

In the Thousand Islands-Seaway region, spotters reporting from St. Lawrence County expect a 40 percent color change this weekend with touches of red, yellow, and orange leaves of average brilliance. In Jefferson County, spotters in Alexandria Bay predict a 40 percent color change, with red and orange leaves of average brilliance. Leaf peepers checking in from Oswego County are calling for 20–25 percent foliage change by the weekend. While average shades of green continue to rule the landscape, the whisper of dull bronze and gold shades through the trees grows louder. More small spots of bright reds, oranges, and yellows are popping up along the I-81 corridor through the center of the county.

In Central New York, spotters checking in from Mohawk in the southern portion of Herkimer County predict color changes approaching the midpoint of change this weekend with 30 percent transition and average to bright leaves of shades of red and gold. Look for 25 percent color change in Broome County, according to spotters in Binghamton, with touches of red, yellow, and light green leaves of average brilliance. In Madison County, spotters reporting from the Old Erie Canal in Chittenangoexpect more than a 20 percent change this weekend, with touches of yellow, orange, and red leaves of average brilliance. In Schoharie County, look for 20 percent color change with average shades of yellow. There are also some touches of orange emerging. Spotters in Oneida County reporting from Utica are calling for a 15–20 percent color change by the weekend with mostly green leaves accompanied by some gold and yellow hues and a splash of orange and red.

In Otsego County, Cooperstown foliage spotters expect just about 15 percent color change with mostly green leaves along with some emerging orange leaves. Chenango County spotters in Norwich expect 10–15 percent color change by the weekend with mostly green leaves along with some shades of yellow and brown. Montgomery County foliage spotters reporting from Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site expect just over a 10 percent color change with mostly green leaves and some orange leaves of average brilliance.

Expected fall color remains low throughout the Catskills region. In Ulster County, look for up to a 25 percent color change at Belleayre Mountain in Highmount. Leaves are slowly changing and fall colors include mostly muted yellows with some pops of red and orange.

In the Capital-Saratoga region, Fulton County spotters reporting from Gloversville expect a 15–20 percent color transition this weekend, with mostly green leaves and touches of yellow and orange, along with some dark shades of red. In Saratoga County, spotters in Saratoga Springs expect a 15 percent color change this weekend with hues of green, yellow, amber, and orange visible throughout the area, along with subtle golds mixed in. Spotters in Altamont in Albany County expect about a 15 percent color change this weekend, with touches of gold and yellow appearing among the green leaves. Rensselaer County spotters expect a 10–20 percent color change by the weekend. Green dominates most of the trees and shrubs, but red and yellow-colored leaves are beginning to stand out. Look for the greatest color changes in the eastern and northern parts of the county.

In the Finger Lakes, look for a 25–30 percent color change in Seneca County. Spotters note that touches of yellow and red leaves of average brilliance are emerging. Chemung County spotters reporting from Elmira and Horseheads expect a 25 percent color change by the weekend as a nice combination of yellow and orange leaves of average brilliance emerges from the green.

Spotters reporting from Corning, Hornell, Bath, Hammondsport, and Keuka Lake in Steuben County expect a 25 percent color change with bright green leaves, along with some shades of gold, yellow, and orange. In Tioga County, spotters reporting from Owego predict a 20 percent color change with some touches of red, orange, and yellow leaves of average brilliance. In Ontario County, Canandaigua, foliage reporters predict 15–20 percent color change with mostly green leaves and some emerging shades of yellow and red.

Look for 15 percent color change in Cayuga County, with touches of red and orange leaves of average brilliance emerging from the mostly green backdrop. Spotters reporting from Rochester, in Monroe County, predict 15 percent color change, with red and yellow leaves starting to appear on maple trees, and yellow leaves on sycamore trees. While green leaves still dominate, spotters expect a significant color change in 2–3 weeks. Color change is expected to be around 10 percent just north of the city, according to spotters in Greece. Spotters reporting from Syracuse in Onondaga County predict color changes averaging just over 10 percent. Green dominates, with some yellow leaves and a few pops of red and orange of average brilliance.

In the Chautauqua-Allegheny region, spotters reporting from Allegany State Park in Cattaraugus County expect 20 percent or less color change this weekend with some subdued orange, red, and yellow leaves emerging. Individual trees with coloring have become more apparent since last week. Greater Niagara region spotters reporting from Wyoming County expect 20 percent color change with touches of red, yellow, and orange leaves of average brilliance. In the Hudson Valley, Columbia County spotters reporting from Hudson expect 15 percent color change with hints of yellow, gold and orange peeking through.

Other reports around the state expect 10 percent or less color change this weekend.