Natural History Wanderings

Fall Foliage in New York  reports for the week of Oct. 28 to Nov. 3, 2015

Vibrant Peak Foliage Reaching Greater Niagara and Long Island Regions

Hudson Valley and Finger Lakes also expect significant areas of peak color

Vibrant peak foliage will continue to arrive in areas of New York State from Niagara Falls to Long Island this weekend, according to observers for Empire State Development’s I LOVE NEW YORK program.

Foliage is expected to reach peak in much of the Greater Niagara region this weekend. Spotters in Buffalo predict 70-75 percent color change in Erie County and peak conditions with all shades of color, especially gold, yellow and red.  Genesee County should be at peak with 90-95 percent color change and bright orange, red, purple and green leaves. Niagara Countyspotters in Niagara Fallspredict peak leaves for the weekend with 95 percent color change and a full range of bright fall colors. Orleans County will be at peak with nearly complete color change and bright gold, orange and red leaves. Wyoming County spotters reporting from Perry note that while the overall foliage will be just past peak this weekend, there are still some great colors remaining, especially in Letchworth State Park. Look for bright shades of red and orange.

In the Finger Lakes region, Cortland County spotters predict peak foliage this weekend with 90 percent color change and red, purple, orange and some green leaves of average brilliance. Look for peak to just past peak leaves in Cayuga County with 85 percent color change, showing brilliant gold, red and orange leaves with a touch of green. Yates County will be near peak with 75 percent color change and bright shades of orange and yellow, with pops of red and brown. Peak colors are expected the first week of November. Spotters in Rochester, in Monroe County, expect peak to just past peak conditions for the weekend with 90-100 percent color change. Leaves are of average brilliance and predominant colors are yellow, red, orange and olive green. Seneca County is expected to be at midpoint of change with 60 percent color transition this weekend with orange and red leaves of average brilliance.

 

Onondaga County will be just past peak with 70-80 percent color change and some good colors remaining, including beautiful shades of yellow, red and purple. Southern Steuben County will be just past peak this weekend, while the Keuka Lake and Hammondsport area of the county should see peak colors. Look for bright shades of yellow, gold, orange and red. Livingston County spotters reporting from Geneseo predict just past peak conditions with 85-100 percent color change and a great variety of brilliant colors, including brick reds, burnt oranges, golden yellows, and browns that make for great contrast against full evergreen trees, especially in the heavily forested Letchworth and Stony Brook state parks. Ontario County will be just past peak with 65-70 percent color change and fairly bright leaves of red, orange and brown. Tompkins County is now past peak with yellow, brown and some red leaves remaining.

In the Hudson Valley, peak foliage is expected in Dutchess County. Spotters in Poughkeepsie note above average brilliance and very bright orange, gold, yellow and red leaves.  According to Rockland County spotters, foliage change is coming on strong in the New City area while fall colors are taking their time on Bear Mountain. In the New City area, look for peak conditions and nearly complete leaf change with vibrant leaves of purple, orange, red and yellow. As with many areas of the state this season, foliage change has been slightly delayed in the Bear Mountain area of the county. Fall colors predicted for Bear Mountain State Park last week did not arrive and this week spotters there are calling for up to 75 percent change and near peak conditions. Spotters note that foliage just seven miles to the north at scenic Storm King Mountain has much more color change and should be at peak this weekend. Westchester County spotters in White Plains expect the county to be near peak this weekend with 40-50 percent color change and predominately red leaves along with shades of orange and yellow. Orange County will be peak to just past peak with 90 percent color change and red, purple and some green leaves of average brilliance.

In the Catskills, spotters reporting from the Kingston area of Ulster Countypredict peak foliage for the weekend with the most color in valley and river regions. Look for bright reds, yellows, and oranges. Please note that with expected rain and wind this week, conditions could move to just past peak for the weekend.

 

Peak color is predicted to arrive on Long Island this weekend. Spotters in East Meadow in Nassau County project 80-90 percent color change and bright yellow, gold, orange, red, purple and lime green fall colors. Suffolk Countyspotters reporting from Riverhead predict peak conditions with 75 percent color change and brightening leaves of orange, red and purple. Sea grasses are golden in color.

 

In New York City, spotters in the Bronx at Pelham Bay Park predict near peak foliage for the weekend with 50 percent change and bright orange, red and yellow leaves.

 

In the Thousand Islands-Seaway region, Oswego County will be at peak. Look for a 100 percent color change in northern areas of the county and 80-100 percent in the southern region. In northern Oswego County areas such as Pulaski, Sandy Creek, and Altmar, oranges and reds continue to brighten the landscape. Along the Oswego River valley in the southern region of the county, the foliage is bright with shades of yellow, orange and red.

Foliage is past peak throughout the Capital-Saratoga region, however should be some good color remaining in the Voorheesville area of Albany County. Look for bright shades of yellow and orange leaves at Thacher Park.

The Chautauqua-Allegheny region is now past peak, but some brilliant red, yellow and orange leaves remain in Chautauqua County.

 

Leaves are past peak in the Adirondacks region; there is some good color remaining in the lower Lake Champlain Valley, including shades of yellow, orange and some bright sparks of red. Lake Georgespotters in Warren County also report some patches of good color remaining.

See photos at Fall Foliage in New York and follow us on Instagram. Share your fall photos using #NYLovesFall.