New York Fall Foliage Report – Bright Peak Fall Foliage Expected in the Adirondacks This Weekend

The warm temperatures predicted for this week, along with no significant rain, frost or high winds, provide for exceptional leaf peeping, hiking, apple picking and photography. Lake Placidarea leaves are currently at peak and spotters there expect excellent color to remain through the weekend and beyond.  Reds and yellows predominate, with the brilliant orange of the sugar maples beginning to emerge.  The hillsides are ablaze with various shades of brilliant golds, corals, bright reds, glowing yellows and light wheats. Many pockets of trees still possess their dark green leaves as they begin to change alongside their already peaked neighbors. The brilliance is high among the 85-90 percent of trees that have changed.  Color will continue well past the weekend, depending on the weather and any wind events. Peak foliage is also expected at Whiteface Mountain.

In Hamilton County look for very close to peak leaves in the Indian Lake area with bright shades of red, orange and yellow. In Herkimer County, spotters in Old Forge expect near peak leaves with 85 percent color change and bright shades of red and orange and increasing shades of yellow. Spotters reporting from Blue Mountain Lake in Hamilton County expect peak conditions and nearly complete color change by the weekend, with average to bright red, orange, yellow and some green leaves. Similar colors are expected in North Creek, where foliage will be near peak with 75 percent change. Franklin County spotters checking in from Saranac Lake expect 50-70 percent color change and midpoint to near peak conditions by the weekend with bright shades of red and yellow and some burnt orange.

In Speculator, in Hamilton County, spotters expect near peak conditions by the weekend with 75 percent color change and red, yellow and orange leaves of above average brilliance. In Malone, spotters reporting from the Franklin County Historical & Museum Society expect 40 percent change and midpoint to near peak foliage with bright green, red, yellow and orange leaves. In the Essex County town of Ticonderoga, expect 50 percent color change and near peak conditions with yellow, red and orange leaves of average brilliance. Foliage spotters reporting from Lake George report beautiful foliage on Rte. 8 between Hague and Brant Lake/Horicon. There is still a good amount of green, along with burnt orange, shades of yellow and muted rusts with occasional reds. The southern portion of the county still has a lot of green leaves, along with burnt orange, shades of yellows and occasional shades of red. In Crown Point, Essex County, expect 30-50 percent color change and beginning to midpoint conditions with leaves of golden yellow, orange, and flashes of flame orange and red. There is more color at higher elevations, while still plenty of green in the valley. Spotters in Willsboro expect early to midpoint conditions and around 30 percent change by the weekend with brilliant shades of red predominating and highlights of bright yellows, deep browns and robust purples rounding out the spectrum.

In the Catskills, Delaware County is expecting near peak foliage this weekend with 80 percent leaf change and vibrant orange, gold and red leaves. It should be a great weekend for leaf peeping at Belleayre Mountain in Highmount, Ulster County this weekend where foliage spotters predict up to 70 percent color change with brilliant pops of red, orange and yellow leaves. In Greene County, spotters are predicting color changes ranging from 70 to more than 95 percent. In Lanesville, expect at least 70-80 percent change with bright, radiant colors breaking out; predominate colors are amber, yellow, salmon and some reds. Colors are particularly coming on strong near Tannersville and Hunter. Spotters situated above 2000′ feet in the county report that there’s a good chance of peak foliage this weekend, with brilliant red and yellow leaves dominating the mountainsides. Spotters reporting from Catskill expect about 80 percent change and near peak foliage with brilliant colors of red, yellow and orange.

Spotters in Sullivan County expect midpoint of foliage change this weekend with 25-35 percent transition and leaves of red, yellow, orange and brick. Spotters reporting from Kingston in Ulster County predict near midpoint conditions by the weekend, depending on the area. Look for average to bright yellow and brownish burgundy leaves emerging from the green, along with hints of brighter orange and yellow leaves.

In the Capital-Saratoga region, Schenectady county spotters in the Glenville area expect foliage at midpoint of change with 45-50 percent leaf transition and many gold leaves freckled with red, along with lots of yellows. Foliage spotters reporting from Thacher Park in Voorheesville project 40-50 percent color change by the weekend with trees at midpoint of change and pale shades of yellow, along with pale reds and brown leaves. In Rensselaer County, spotters predict 35-45 percent color change with 50-60 percent change in the eastern and northern parts of the county. Look for bright shades orange and yellow with a perfect mix of green. In the western and southern part of the county green dominates, but is rapidly being overtaken by fall colors, including bright purplish-reds through all shades of red, orange-red, orange and yellow. Lower elevations at are close to midpoint of progression, higher elevations are at midpoint.

In Saratoga County, foliage observers expect 40 percent or more color change and near peak conditions throughout the county with vibrant bursts of red, burgundy, deep orange and bright yellow leaves, along with some amber and green leaves

In Central New York., look for 45-55 percent change in Chenango County, according to spotters in Norwich. Foliage should be at midpoint with muted touches of yellow, red and orange. In Herkimer County, spotters in Mohawk expect midpoint conditions and 50 percent color change with average to bright leaves of red, orange and gold. In Madison County, leaf peepers are expecting 50 percent or more color change and near peak conditions with bright orange, yellow and red leaves predominating, particularly along scenic Rt. 20 in Cazenovia.

Leaf peepers reporting from Schoharie County State Historic Site in Montgomery County expect up to 40 percent color change this weekend with conditions nearing midpoint and dull to average fall colors of red and yellow along with orange highlights.  In Binghamton, foliage spotters expect 40 percent or more color change with bright red and yellow leaves at midpoint to near peak conditions. Spotters in Utica, in Oneida County, expect 40 percent change and midpoint conditions by the weekend with a muted color palette. Colors are beginning to pop and are predominantly shades of rose, gold, bronze and amber highlighted with brighter shades of red and orange. Otsego County spotters based in Cooperstown predict midpoint conditions with 30 percent color change with average to bright shades of yellow, red, orange and brown. Spotters in Howes Cave, in Montgomery County, expect more than 25 percent color change with bright yellow, orange, red, brown and purple leaves at early to midpoint of change.

In the Finger Lakes, foliage conditions will range from beginning to midpoint of change. In Watkins Glen, in Schuyler County, spotters predict midpoint to near peak foliage with 50-60 percent change and average to bright shades of yellow and red. Foliage reporters in Steuben County project 50 percent color change and midpoint conditions in the Corning and Hornell areas and about 30 percent color change and just beginning conditions around Keuka Lake. Tompkins County foliage spotters reporting from Ithaca expect the leaves to be at midpoint of change with 50 percent transition and shades of red, yellow and orange leaves of average brilliance. The leaves are average to bright shades of red, orange and yellow. Spotters in Elmira, Chemung County, are predicting 40 percent color change with bright green and gold leaves, along with touches of orange and red.

Cortland County can expect around 25 percent color change with yellow and red leaves emerging from the still mostly green backdrop. Cayuga County will see 25 percent change with just beginning fall foliage of bright orange, yellow and red highlights. In Seneca County, look for 20-25 percent change with fall colors of mostly yellow, along with some orange and red leaves of average brilliance. Tioga County foliage observers reporting from Owego predict just beginning conditions and 30 percent color change with muted red and yellow fall highlights among the green. In Syracuse, Onondaga County, spotters expect beginning conditions with up to about 20 percent color change with many emerging yellow leaves, along with touches of red and purple leaves, of above average brilliance.

In Wayne County, expect only around 10 percent color change with mostly green leaves.  In Livingston County, Geneseo leaf peepers expect about 5-10 percent color change with small amounts of muted yellow and orange leaves at the tree tops. In Monroe County, spotters reporting from the Rochester area expect 20-25 percent leaf transition as the colors are beginning to emerge. Fall colors are mostly yellow, with some lime green and red mixed in. Color is also beginning to show along the shore of Lake Ontario. In Ontario County, spotters in Canandaiguaexpect 30 percent color change and just beginning conditions by the weekend with muted shades of deep red and yellow, along with some orange and tan, beginning to emerge from the primarily green backdrop.  Also in Ontario County, spotters in Geneva expect up to 10 percent change by the weekend with spots of red and yellow emerging from the primarily green backdrop.  In Yates County, foliage transition will be more than 10 percent with some orange, red and yellow leaves emerging.

In the Chautauqua-Allegheny region, colors are emerging rapidly at Allegany State Park in Cattaraugus County, with 40-50 change predicted by the weekend and near peak conditions. Look for yellow and red leaves of average brilliance. This weekend and next should be the best time to enjoy fall colors at the park. In Little Valley, color is also rapidly changing and should be near midpoint of transition by the weekend. Fall hues of yellow and a little red of average brilliance are emerging. In Chautauqua County, spotters reporting from Chautauqua expect 25-30 percent transition and foliage at beginning to midpoint of change. Northern Chautauqua and southern Chautauqua County are still mainly green. The mid portion of the county may see up to 40 percent change due to its higher elevation. Look for dark orange highlights of average brilliance.

In the Greater Niagara region, spotters in Perry, in Wyoming County, expect beginning to midpoint foliage with 25 percent change and muted shades of red, yellow and orange beginning to emerge from the primarily green trees. Erie County spotters in reporting from Buffalo project the leaves to be at midpoint of change with 25 percent transition and an increasing amount of red, yellows and golds emerging daily. Spotters in Orleans County expect no more than 20 percent color change with touches of gold and red beginning to emerge from the shades of green leaves. Observers in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, expect 15 percent color change with bright yellow leaves emerging, along with shades of orange and red. In Genesee County, look for up to 15 percent color change with shades of yellow and orange. Spotters reporting from Springville in Erie County expect 20 percent color change with mostly green leaves.

In the Thousand Islands-Seaway region, spotters reporting from the Alexandria Bay area along the St. Lawrence River in Jefferson County predict 50 percent change and midpoint conditions with yellow and orange leaves of average brilliance. Look for a 40-50 percent change and midpoint conditions by the weekend in Oswego County. Autumnal amber hues are washing across the landscape more quickly now and spreading throughout the entire county. Many more trees feature clusters of bright purples, reds and oranges to showcase a rich kaleidoscope of color. About 50 percent color change is expected in St. Lawrence County with dull to average leaves of red, yellow and orange.

A wide range of foliage reports are coming in from Hudson Valley leaf peepers. Spotters reporting from Bear Mountain and the surrounding area in Rockland County are predicting color changes ranging from 45 to more than 60 percent for the weekend. Look for predominating shades of orange, red, gold and yellow, with some pockets of foliage perhaps reaching near peak, but most with the trees mostly at midpoint of change. In Columbia County, foliage spotters predict a wide range of color progression this weekend, ranging from 35-55 percent, depending on the location. Look for the change to average midpoint of progression with muted yellows and oranges along with deep red leaves and lots of green remaining.

Rockland County spotters reporting from New City expect midpoint conditions with 40 percent change and bright red, purple and yellow leaves overtaking the green. Orange County spotters predict 45-55 percent color change with mostly gold and yellow leaves. Color change is still low in the city of Poughkeepsie, in Dutchess County. Spotters there predict about 20 percent color change with fall colors of orange, gold and yellow. Color change may be significantly more in county areas of higher elevation and latitude. Color change will still be low in Westchester County this weekend, with about 5 percent transition. Leaves are mostly green with hints of muted shades of yellow and orange.

Fall color is beginning to emerge on Long Island. Look for 5-10 percent color change in Nassau County, depending on the area, and yellow and orange leaves of average brilliance. Foliage spotters reporting from Tanger Outlets in Riverhead, Suffolk County expect 5-10 percent color change with yellow and orange leaves of average brilliance and the seagrasses in full bloom. There is still no significant foliage change in New York City.