Week of Sept. 30 – Oct. 6, 2015
Beautiful Peak and Near Peak Colors Making First Appearances in New York State
Adirondacks and Catskills areas to see most change this weekend
This is the fourth 2015 FALL COLOR REPORT for New York State. Reports are obtained from field observers and reflect expected color conditions for the coming weekend. FALL COLOR REPORTS are issued every Wednesday afternoon.
Beautiful peak and near peak colors will appear for the first time in New York State this foliage season, according to observers for Empire State Development’s I LOVE NEW YORK program. In the Adirondacks, peak colors are expected to arrive in the Tupper Lake and Mt. Arab areas, and in the Catskills, Delaware County is expecting near peak leaves this weekend.
In the Adirondacks region, foliage spotters in the Tupper Lake and Mt. Arab areas of Franklin County report that the cooler nights have had a positive effect on the color display and expect peak conditions this weekend with 80 percent color change and leaves of average brilliance. Colors include: raspberry, crimson, cranberry, maize, buttercup, mustard, salmon, pumpkin, and copper. Spotters in Herkimer County based in Old Forge predict 75 percent color change with near peak red and orange leaves of average brilliance. In Warren County, spotters reporting from the Upper Hudson River Gorge, Blue Mountain and North Creek expect up to 70 percent color change in elevations above 2000′ and 60 percent change at elevations above 1000′. Look for shades of red, orange, yellow and green along with some brilliant reds in wetlands areas. Hamilton County spotters reporting from Speculator expect between 70 and 80 percent color change and near peak conditions with a large amount of muted orange, yellow and red leaves along with a few pops of brighter colors. Some leaf droppage has been reported.
In the Lake Placid area of Essex County, look for approximately 80 percent leaf change by weekend, depending on the elevation. Leaves are of average brilliance, with some isolated brilliant trees, and include brown, rust, orange, red, yellow and green leaves. Over in Wilmington, spotters at Whiteface Mountain expect 35-40 percent color change with fall shades of orange and yellow. Spotters in Ticonderogaalso expect around 35-40 percent color change with orange, red and yellow leaves of average to bright brilliance. Spotters Willsboro note that color change is picking up somewhat and to expect 25 percent leaf transition this weekend with deep red and bright yellow leaves. In Crown Point, look for 15-25 percent change with muted shades of yellow and russet and some bright oranges. Warren County spotters inLake George expect slight change for the area’s foliage this weekend – look for around 25 percent leaf transformation.
In the Catskills, near peak foliage should arrive in Delaware County this weekend. Look for more than 65 percent color change and bright shades of orange, gold and yellow leaves. Spotters in Ulster County reporting from Saugerties expect midpoint to near peak foliage for the area this weekend, with 65-70 percent color change and bright shades of orange, gold and yellow. Highmount spotters at Belleayre Mountain note leaves are changing quickly and expect 50 percent transition, with increased visibility of vibrant red and yellow leaves. Foliage spotters reporting from the mountains of Greene County in the northern Catskills expect between 50 and 70 percent leaf change in elevations above 2000′ this weekend with mostly red and yellow leaves, which have appeared to be changing fast over the past few days. InCatskill, look for 25 percent color change with red, orange and yellow leaves of average brilliance. Sullivan County spotters in Ferndale project 15-20 percent change with medium to bright leaves. Look for brilliant pockets of orange and yellow, along with pops of bright red leaves. Spotters reporting from Kingston in Ulster County expect just 10 percent color change this weekend with minimal fall colors of yellow and orange and some scattered red leaves.
Foliage in the Thousand Islands-Seaway region will be mostly at midpoint of change this weekend. Spotters in Jefferson County predict 60 percent color change with yellow and orange leaves of average brilliance. St. Lawrence County spotters predict 40-50 percent leaf change with fall colors of red and gold. In Oswego County, look for 35 percent color change in the northern part of the county, and 20 percent in the southern region. In northern Oswego County areas such as Pulaski, Sandy Creek, and Altmar, some yellows, oranges and reds are scattered among the greenery; dull greens, rust and bronze tones continue to dominate southern areas of the county along with a few touches of orange and red.
In the Capital-Saratoga region, foliage spotters in Northville, in Fulton County, expect foliage to be at midpoint of change this weekend, with 50 percent transition and bright deep red and orange maple leaves, along with increasing shades of yellow and brown. Also in the county, Gloversville will see around 40 percent leaf change with more red and orange leaves appearing, along with shades yellow and green. In Saratoga County, Saratoga Springs leaf peepers predict 25 percent color change this weekend with average to bright leaves of yellow, orange and red, along with some subtle shades of gold. In Rensselaer County, foliage spotters expect 20-25 percent color change in the eastern and northern portions of the county, with 25-35 percent change in areas of higher elevation. Look for shades of bright orange, yellow, red and still a lot of green. Schenectady County spotters reporting from Glenville expect 30 percent color change with shades of red predominating the fall colors, along with some yellows. In Albany County, spotters reporting from Voorheesville expect 20-25 percent color change with shades of yellow predominating.
In Central New York, look for 55 percent color change in Binghamton, where spotters report bright red, orange and yellow leaves on trees at midpoint of change. Schoharie County spotters checking in from Howes Cave project 50 percent color change with orange leaves of muted brilliance. Otsego County foliage spotters reporting from Cooperstown expect 50 percent color change with yellow, orange and a few red leaves of average brilliance. Chenango County spotters based inNorwich predict 40 percent color change with red and orange leaves of average brilliance. Oneida County spotters in Utica predict 35 percent color change with muted shades of gold and blush, along with hints or red and orange. In Mohawk, Herkimer County, foliage spotters predict approximately 30 percent color change with yellow, gold and red leaves starting to appear over the green backdrop. In Madison County, spotters based in Morrisville expect less than 20 percent change with the green backdrop giving way to touches of canary yellow, cardinal red, and orange leaves of average brilliance.
In the Finger Lakes region, spotters in Corning, in Steuben County, expect 50 percent leaf change with bright shades of yellow, gold, orange and red. Schuyler County leaf peepers in Watkins Glen predict 35-40 percent color change with bright yellow, orange and a few red leaves gradually overtaking the green backdrop. In Chemung County, Elmira area spotters predict 30 percent color change with red and orange leaves of average brilliance. Tioga County spotters in Owego predict 25 percent color change, while spotters in Syracuse, in Onondaga County, expect 20-25 percent change with average to bright yellow and red leaves. Also look for 20-25 percent color change inWayne and Monroe counties, where spotters in Rochester note that a majority of trees continue to appear olive in color, but with emerging shades of yellow, red, orange and rust. Seneca County expects 20 percent change with some red leaves just beginning to emerge from the green backdrop.
Cayuga County will see just less than 20 percent color change this weekend; some gold and yellow leaves are starting to appear.Cortland County will be at about 15 percent change with some yellow leaves, as will Livingston County, where spotters note some bright shades of yellow, orange and red leaves starting to emerge. Ontario County spotters reporting from Canandaigua expect less than 15 percent color change by the weekend, with hints of rust orange and gold leaves. Yates County will be at 10 percent color change.
In the Chautauqua-Allegheny region, spotters in Cattaraugus County at Allegany State Park expect foliage to be at midpoint of change this weekend with 65 percent color transition and orange, yellow and some red leaves of average brilliance. Look for the most color in the park’s Quaker area. Also in the county, spotters in Little Valley predict 45 percent color change and a mix of brown, rust and yellow fall colors of muted brilliance. Chautauqua County spotters based in Chautauqua expect 25 percent color change with dull orange and rust leaves.
In the Greater Niagara region, up to 40 percent of the leaves will be changed in Wyoming County this weekend, according to spotters based in Perry, who note increasing amounts of bright red and orange leaves. Genesee County spotters inBatavia also expect 40 percent color change with bright orange and red leaves, along with splashes of purple. Erie County is starting to see some shades of yellow, burgundy and red emerge, however it is still mostly green there. Look for between 15 and 20 percent change this weekend. Leaves in Niagara County will be around 15 percent changed this weekend. Spotters in Niagara Falls note that previously emerged shades of yellow are being joined by shades of orange and red this week. Orleans County spotters based in Albion predict still less than 10 percent change for the weekend.
Foliage in the Hudson Valley is still in the beginning stages. In Rockland County, spotters based in New City predict 30 percent color change for the weekend, with some purple, orange and red leaves of average brilliance. Columbia County spotters in Hudson project 15-25 percent color change for the area with fall colors of deep red and some orange and yellow. Dutchess County spotters based inPoughkeepsie expect little color change this weekend, with about 15-20 percent leaf transition. Emerging colors include red, orange and yellow. Orange County spotters based in Goshen expect 15 percent color transition with some eye-catching bursts of red, yellow, wine and pumpkin-colored leaves. Westchester County will be at around 10 percent change with some orange fall highlights.
Color change on Long Island and in New York City will be 5 percent or below this weekend. Spotters in Suffolk County note emerging yellow and purple leaves, while some brown and red leaves are beginning to appear in the Pelham Bay Park area of The Bronx.
