New York Fall Foliage Report
Week of Oct. 14-20, 2015
Brilliant Fall Colors Rapidly Advancing Throughout New York State
Peak and near peak colors to spread across NYS this weekend
This is the sixth 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.
Albany, N.Y. – Spectacular peak and near peak fall colors will emerge across New York State this weekend, according to spotters for Empire State Development’s I LOVE NY program. This weekend looks to be one of the best for foliage viewing this season, with great colors from the Chautauqua-Allegheny region to the Hudson Valley.
In the Adirondacks region, spotters reporting fromTiconderoga in Essex County predict nearly complete leaf change and peak foliage with bright yellow, red and orange leaves. In Crown Point, look for 75-100 percent change with shades of yellow, orange and some bright sparks of red leaves. Most locations in the town will be near peak with some parts at peak. Similar conditions are projected for theWillsboro area as well. Expect 80-100 percent color change with deep fire red maples and bright sunny yellows of the birches mixed with the chocolate browns of the majestic oaks. Spotters in Willsboro expect some of the best viewing of the season this weekend. In Warren County, look for peak foliage in the northwestern portion of the county; the southern portion will be near peak, with spotters in Lake George calling for 65 percent color change and a variety of soft shades of yellow, rust, orange and red.
Spotters in Lake Placid predict the village will be a bit past peak this weekend. Predominating colors are orange, yellow, gold and bronze, with some isolated brilliant red leaves. Look for especially bright orange sugar maple leaves. In the Tupper Lake and Mt. Arab areas of Franklin County, trees will be 95 percent changed with a significant amount of color remaining for this time of year. Predominating colors include bronze, copper, and various yellow hues with a cinnamon backdrop. Foliage is just past peak in Old Forge in Herkimer County. Look for shades of orange and red with some yellows and light greens.
Travelers will find beautiful near peak to peak foliage throughout the Capital-Saratoga region this weekend. Spotters in Glenville in Schenectady County expect peak leaves with bright shades of red and some orange. Near peak foliage is projected for Northville in Fulton County. Spotters at Lapland Lake predict 85 percent color change and brilliant red, orange and yellow leaves. Spotters checking in from Gloversville predict 90 percent color change and yellow, orange, rust, red and purple near peak to peak leaves of average brilliance. In Saratoga County, Saratoga Springs observers predict 70 percent color change and near peak to peak leaves of a full range of fall colors, including bright reds and yellows, purples, oranges, along with ambers and deep greens. Spotters are seeing big changes in the eastern and northern portions of Rensselaer County. Look for 80-90 percent color change and peak conditions with all shades of red leaves, including some striking bright purplish-red tones, and many shades of yellow. Some significant leaf droppage has been noted in the higher elevations. Leaves in the western and southern portions of the county should be 65-75 percent changed.
In Albany County, spotters in Voorheesville reporting from Thacher State Park expect 85-100 percent change and near peak to peak conditions with bright shades of yellow and orange along with touches of red. Spotters in Cohoes expect 75-80 percent color change and near peak to peak foliage with many shades of yellow and gold, along with some very bright shades of red.
In the Catskills, gorgeous peak foliage is arriving in Greene County. Veteran spotters reporting from above 2000′ expect peak conditions with a full range of very brilliant colors and are noting some of the best colors seen in years. Spotters inCatskill are also predicting peak for this weekend with a wide range of bright colors.Sullivan County will be at peak this weekend with nearly complete color change and bouquets of brilliant oranges and russet reds infused with caramel and a spattering of yellow and green. Ulster County spotters reporting from Saugerties expect near peak to peak leaves over the coming week with 90 percent color transition and very bright shades of gold, yellow, orange, red and a tinge of green. Look for 30-40 percent color change and midpoint conditions in the Kingston area, with rapidly increasing amounts of light green, yellow and orange leaves, along with scattered amounts of red and burnt orange leaves. Delaware County will be past peak, with average to bright yellow leaves along with some pops of red.
In Central New York, peak colors are arriving in Oneida County. Spotters based inUtica predict the best colors of the season this weekend, with nearly complete color change. Colors include vibrant orange and some bright red, along with muted shades of yellow, gold and blush. Schoharie County foliage spotters reporting fromHowes Cave also expect peak leaves this weekend with 80-85 percent color change and a mix of bright and dark orange fall colors. Otsego County will be at peak with 100 percent color change and yellow and orange leaves of average brilliance along with splashes of red. Herkimer County will be at peak this weekend. Look for brilliant gold and red leaves. Madison County spotters reporting from Morrisvilleexpect peak conditions with 70 percent color change and bright orange, red and yellow leaves. Leaves will be just past peak in Binghamton with 80 percent color change and bright red, orange and yellow fall colors. Chenango County spotters based in Norwich are also predicting past peak leaves by the weekend, with the brightest colors to be found near ponds or lakes.
In the Finger Lakes region, peak colors are expected in Steuben County. Spotters based in Corning predict nearly complete color change with bright yellow and gold tones, along with some shades of orange and red. Tioga County spotters based inOwego predict peak conditions with 75 percent color change and average to bright leaves of yellow and orange, along with some brown and green. Peak leaves are expected in Tompkins County. Ithaca-based spotters expect 90 percent color change and average to bright leaves of yellow and orange, along with some red. Look for peak with some past peak leaves in Chemung County. Spotters in Elmira expect 80 percent color change with muted to bright shades of red and gold.Onondaga County will be near peak to peak this weekend, with 50-55 percent color change and very bright yellow, red and purple leaves.
Near peak foliage will appear in Schuyler County this weekend. Expect 70-75 percent color change with bright shades of yellow and orange and some red starting to emerge. Livingston County expects to be near peak this weekend with 65-70 percent color change and bright, beautiful gold, rust and fiery red tones. Cayuga County predicts midpoint foliage conditions this weekend with 60 percent color change and an abundance of bright gold, red and orange leaves. Cortland County will also be at midpoint of change with red and orange leaves of average brilliance. Midpoint to near peak foliage will arrive in Monroe County. Spotters based in Rochester expect 50-60 percent color change, with more intense colors as you move away from Lake Ontario. Look for olive-green and yellow with red and orange highlights. Foliage in Ontario County is approaching midpoint of change. Wayne County should expect 35-40 percent color change with muted yellow leaves. Spotters in Canandaigua expect 20-25 percent color change with vivid colors, including bright shades of gold and red, making their first appearances of the season. Look for more color in the southern hillier parts of the county. Seneca County spotters expect 30-35 percent color change with small accents of red and orange. In Yates County, look for 25 percent color change with predominance of yellow and brown leaves.
Foliage will be peak throughout the Chautauqua-Allegheny region this weekend. In Chautauqua County, spotters reporting from Chautauqua predict 85 percent color change with average to bright gold-yellow, orange and red leaves. In Cattaraugus County, spotters in Allegany State Park are expecting the season’s best color this weekend with 75 percent transition and brilliant orange, yellow and red leaves. Little Valley spotters expect 70 percent color change with peak conditions showing muted orange, red, yellow and brown leaves.
In the Greater Niagara region, peak colors should remain through the weekend in Wyoming County. Look for 75 percent color change and bright red and orange leaves. Genesee County will be at peak. Batavia spotters predict nearly complete leaf transition and yellow, orange and some red leaves of average brilliance. Erie County will be midpoint to near peak this weekend with 40-50 percent transition. Niagara Falls foliage observers predict midpoint conditions with 50 percent color change and bright shades of yellow and orange with some shades of red mixed in. Also look for midpoint conditions in Orleans County. Albion-based observers expect 40 percent change and bright gold leaves along with some red highlights.
In the Thousand Islands-Seaway region, peak foliage will arrive in Jefferson County this weekend with 95 percent color change and brilliant yellow, orange and red leaves. Foliage in St. Lawrence County will range from peak to just past peak with 50-75 percent color change. Dull to average yellow, orange, red and copper leaves will emerge in the Adirondacks portion of the region and red and yellow leaves in the St. Lawrence River Valley areas. In Oswego County, look for 50-60 percent color change in northern areas of the county and 40 to 45 percent change in the southern parts. In northern Oswego County areas such asPulaski, Sandy Creek and Altmar, oranges and reds color the landscape with average brilliance. Dull greens, rust and bronze tones continue to dominate the southern areas of the county; however, more spots of yellow, orange and red are beginning to emerge.
Near peak and some peak foliage will color the Hudson Valley this weekend. Spotters in Hudson, in Columbia County, expect 70-75 percent color change with average to bright yellow, orange and red leaves. Dutchess County spotters are calling for 75 percent change and near peak leaves of rich gold, bright orange and deep red and maroon. Orange County spotters based in Goshen predict 75 percent color change and average to bright leaves of yellow, red, pumpkin, lime and wine. Rockland County spotters based at Bear Mountain State Park predict 85 percent color change and peak leaves this weekend. Look for bright red, orange and yellow leaves. Also in the county, spotters based in New City expect near peak conditions with 75 percent color change and vibrant colors of purple, orange, red and yellow. Westchester County is still seeing minimal change. Expect around 15 percent color change for the weekend with some bright red and orange leaves scattered among the green.
Fall color is making significant advances on Long Island. Spotters based in Melville expect 30-40 percent color change with yellow, orange, red and purple leaves of average brilliance. Riverhead spotters predict 25 percent change and bright yellow, orange and purple leaves. In New York City, spotters based at Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx expect 10 percent color change with bright red and yellow leaves beginning to appear.
