6 days ago
Could New England see a spectacular fall foliage season? Here's what experts say
People traveling to see New England's fall foliage often have to plan their vacations early. One expert is offering his advice.
Photographer and leaf peeping expert Jeff Folger, nicknamed Jeff Foliage, believes this year could have a 'spectacular fall foliage season.'
But, he warns, this is 'barring any dramatic weather over the next two months' as his July prediction is earlier than most offer.
He said that a drought in New England is still a possibility but it's less likely than in 2024, which is a good thing.
Starting around Sept. 20, fall foliage vacationers should head to Stratton, Maine where he expects the earliest fall colors. However, it won't be widespread colors by then. It might be better to wait until Sept. 25.
The bright vibrant colors will start to make their way to New Hampshire and Vermont around Oct. 1. But don't go to Vermont expecting color prior to October.
Massachusetts typically sees color after the further north states. Folger didn't share any early predictions for the commonwealth.
'The bottom line is there are no guarantees as far as the weather goes, and the day-to-day weather is critical to what happens,' he wrote.
Last year, the weekend of Oct. 4 to Oct. 6 was the 'best weekend for the most northern tier of New England leaf peeping,' according to Yankee Magazine.
In Massachusetts, peak leaf peeping hit the state in the Berkshires around Oct. 20. The majority of the state hit the peak a week later on Oct. 27.
Other 2025 predictions
Explore Fall, a website dedicated to fall foliage, predicts northern New England to start seeing rich colors by Oct. 10. Massachusetts is expected to have beautiful leaves starting around Oct. 18 with a full peak being closer to Oct. 28.
Leaf peeping season will be over by Nov. 13.
Farmer's Almanac predicts much of New England will be at or near peak fall color by Oct. 11. Massachusetts is expected to be at its peak around Oct. 20 but we could start seeing changes in leaves in September.
Similar predictions were made in 2024.
The Smoky Mountains' map has some of the earliest predictions.
Leaf peeping in Massachusetts, according to the map, could start as early as Sept. 23 with peak fall foliage hitting by Oct. 7. And Massachusetts could be past its peak by Oct. 21.
But the changing leaves don't have to dictate your fall vacation vibes, Folger advised.
'Autumn is a state of mind more than a time of year,' he wrote.
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Read the original article on MassLive.
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