Natural History Wanderings

Some Areas of the Adirondacks to see Peak and Near-Peak Leaves this Weekend

This is the fourth 2018 Fall Foliage Report for New York State. Reports are obtained from field observers and reflect expected color conditions for the coming weekend. Fall Foliage Reports are issued every Wednesday afternoon.

Vibrant peak and near-peak foliage is expected this weekend in some areas of the Adirondacks region, while near-peak colors will emerge in the Thousand Islands-Seaway region and parts of the Catskills, according to observers for the Empire State Development Division of Tourism’s I LOVE NY program.

In the Adirondacks region, Franklin County spotters in Tupper Lake are predicting peak foliage this weekend with 85 percent color change and buttercup, burnt sienna, ginger, carrot, copper, bittersweet, scarlet, rhubarb, and burgundy leaves of above-average brilliance. Saranac Lake spotters are calling for near-peak foliage this weekend with 60-70 percent color change and a bright, gorgeous mix of red, orange, and yellow hues. In Malone, midpoint to near-peak foliage is predicted for the weekend. Look for 50 percent color change and the continued emergence of deep shades of red and vibrant shades of gold.

In Essex County, spotters reporting from the Whiteface area around Wilmington note that colors have progressed quickly over the past week, with 65 percent transition and bright, near-peak foliage expected this weekend. Look for vibrant shades of red, orange, yellow, and gold. In Lake Placid, look for 50-60 percent color change this weekend with bright shades of red, orange, yellow, and gold and foliage at the midpoint to near-peak of change. In Crown Point, foliage should be at the midpoint of change by the weekend, with 30-50 percent color transition. Look for shades of golden yellow, russet, and some bright bursts of flame-red and orange. There is more fall color in elevated areas away from the valley. In Willsboro, spotters expect foliage to be at the midpoint of change by the weekend with 30 percent color transition and rich dark reds mixed with rust browns highlighted by bright shades of gold and yellow. In Ticonderoga, foliage will be heading toward the midpoint of change this weekend with 20-25 percent transition and increasingly vibrant yellow, orange, and red leaves. Spotters in Schroon Lake predict 20 percent color change by the weekend with some very colorful groups of trees with bright red and gold leaves.

In Herkimer County this weekend, look for 65 percent color change and near-peak conditions in Old Forge, with average shades of red, orange, and yellow emerging. In Hamilton County, Lake Pleasant spotters expect foliage at near or at the midpoint of change with 40 percent color transition and lots of muted shades of yellow and orange, along with hints of red. Look for 45 percent color change and midpoint conditions in the northwestern portion of Warren County. To the south, the color change will be about 35-40 percent. Fall colors are primarily muted shades of yellow and orange with some red mixed in.

In the Thousand Islands-Seaway region, Jefferson County spotters in Alexandria Bay expect 75 percent color change and near-peak foliage this weekend. Look for red, orange, and yellow leaves of average brilliance. In St. Lawrence County, spotters in Canton predict 50 percent color change this weekend with red, yellow, and some purple fall colors of average brilliance. Most areas are at the midpoint, but some isolated areas and trees are near-peak. Foliage will be at the midpoint of change in Oswego County. Look for 30-40 percent color transition as luminous shades of bronze, copper, and gold are quickly overcoming the dull greens of the landscape throughout the county, with many more bright spots of red, orange, and yellow showing through.

In the Catskills region, spotters in Greene County, reporting from above 2000 feet expect 75 percent color change and midpoint to near-peak conditions this weekend. Look for bright red, yellow, and green leaves. Greene County spotters reporting from Catskill are predicting 25 percent color change for the upcoming weekend. Fall colors include vibrant reds, burnt oranges, and yellows of average brilliance. In Ulster County, spotters reporting from Belleayre Mountain in Highmount expect foliage to be at the midpoint of change with 40-50 percent color transition and increasing amounts of yellow, orange, and red leaves. Foliage spotters reporting from Kingston predict 25-35 percent color change this weekend with increasing amounts of bright orange, yellow, and red leaves.

Colors remain low in Delaware County. Spotters there expect just 15 percent color change by the weekend, with muted fall colors of yellow, red, and orange. In Sullivan County, spotters in Ferndale are predicting 20 percent color change with touches of red leaves of average brilliance. Spotters reporting from southeast Sullivan County, in Forestburgh, expect just 10 percent color change by the weekend with some muted touches of gold, wine, and a little red.

In Central New York, in Mohawk, Herkimer County, spotters predict foliage will be at the midpoint of change this weekend. Look for 50 percent color transition and average-to-bright shades of red and gold. In Oneida County, Utica foliage spotters predict 50 percent color change and foliage at the midpoint for the weekend, with yellow, orange, and red leaves of average brilliance, along with muted scarlet hues. Leaves should be around the midpoint of change in Chenango County, according to spotters in Norwich. Look for 30-40 percent color transition and muted yellow leaves accompanied by some splashes of orange. Wind and rain have accelerated leaf droppage.

Broome County spotters reporting from Binghamton predict 35 percent color change this weekend, with midpoint conditions and red, yellow, and light green leaves of average brilliance. In Madison County, spotters reporting from the Fenner Renewable Energy Education Center in Fenner predict 30 percent color change and foliage nearing midpoint this weekend with bright red, orange, and yellow leaves. Look for 30 percent color change in Schoharie County, according to spotters in Schoharie, with some hints of brilliant red and orange emerging through the mostly yellow and green leaves. In Otsego County, Cooperstown foliage spotters are calling for 20 percent color change with some muted orange and yellow leaves. In Montgomery County, spotters reporting from the Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site predict 15 percent color change for the weekend with muted-to-average red and yellow leaves, along with some shades or orange.

In the Capital-Saratoga region, Albany County spotters reporting from Altamont expect foliage approaching midpoint of change, with shades of gold and yellow. In Rensselaer County, more noticeable changes are taking place in the county’s eastern and northeastern areas. Look for conditions approaching midpoint, with 30-35 percent color change and bright orange, yellow, and red leaves. The rest of the county will be at about 20-25 percent color change. More color is appearing in Schenectady County, according to spotters in Rotterdam. Look for about 35-40 percent color change this weekend with bright red and yellow leaves. Saratoga County spotters in Saratoga Springs expect 30 percent color change as bursts of reds, deep oranges, and bright yellows, along with amber and green, become more visible throughout the county.

In the Finger Lakes region, Chemung County spotters reporting from Elmira and Horseheads expect about 35 percent color change for the coming week. Yellow leaves dominate, while vibrant shades of orange and hints of red are also emerging. Seneca County spotters expect 35 percent color change with more hints of red and orange leaves of average brilliance appearing over the green backdrop. In Steuben County, Corning foliage spotters expect 35 percent color change with bright shades of gold, yellow, and orange continuing to emerge from the still-dominant green. In Tompkins County, spotters reporting from Ithaca project 35 percent color change with average shades of yellow, orange, and red. Livingston County spotters in Geneseo expect 30 percent color change this weekend with average-to-bright shades of red and yellow rapidly emerging. The early maples are on full display with most showing a full range of red tones from pink to ruby red.

In Monroe County, Rochester spotters predict 25-30 percent color change with average-to-bright fall colors heading toward the midpoint of change. Red and yellow leaves are appearing on maple trees, and yellow leaves on sycamore and elm trees, while green leaves still dominate.

Just north of Rochester, spotters reporting from Greece expect 15-20 percent color change with more trees in the area starting to display shades of yellow and a few more are giving off touches of red and orange. Green is still the dominant color and many trees are going directly from green to a rust-brown color. In Cayuga County, Auburn foliage spotters are predicting a 25 percent color change with bright shades of red, gold, and yellow becoming more prominent.

Look for a 15 percent color change in Cortland County with average leaves of red, orange, and yellow. In Ontario County, spotters in Canandaigua project 20 percent color change with dull yellow leaves appearing amid the mostly green backdrop. Tioga County leaf peepers checking in from Owego predict 20 percent color change this weekend with mostly green leaves and some touches of red and yellow leaves of average brilliance. In Onondaga County, foliage spotters reporting from Syracuse predict 15 percent color change by the weekend with average-to-bright shades of yellow starting to appear from the mostly green backdrop. In Ontario County, Geneva spotters are predicting up to 15 percent color change with muted touches of red, yellow and brown leaves. Wayne County spotters in Lyons predict 15 percent color change with muted gold leaves beginning to appear over the mostly green backdrop.

In the Chautauqua-Allegheny region, Cattaraugus County spotters at Allegany State Park expect 40 percent color change this weekend with muted yellow leaves dominating the emerging fall colors. In Little Valley, spotters are expecting color changes of about 20 percent with tinges of muted yellow and orange leaves. In Chautauqua County, look for 15 percent color change with some pale orange and yellow leaves of average brilliance beginning to emerge from the mostly green background.

In the Greater Niagara region, Erie County spotters reporting from Springville expect 40 percent color change and near-midpoint conditions this weekend with orange and yellow leaves of average brilliance, along with a touch of red. In Wyoming County, foliage will be approaching the midpoint of change this weekend. Look for 35-40 percent color change with average-to-bright shades of red, yellow and orange. In Orleans County, spotters in Albion are expecting 25 percent color change with average shades of gold and red starting to pop. Erie County spotters reporting from Buffalo predict up to 15 percent color change this weekend, with shades of yellow and gold beginning to appear. Genesee County spotters reporting from Bataviapredict 20 percent color change with average-to-bright yellow and orange leaves. In Niagara County, spotters in Niagara Falls expect just 10 percent color change this weekend. Trees are mostly green, with some shades of yellow and orange beginning to emerge.

In the Hudson Valley, Columbia County spotters checking in from Hudson expect just 15 percent color change by the weekend. Look for some yellow, gold, orange, and hints of red leaves of average brilliance. In Dutchess County, Poughkeepsie spotters are calling for 15 percent color change this weekend with green leaves continuing to dominate the landscape. Most fall color will be found in the northern and higher elevation portions of the county. In Orange County, spotters in Goshen expect 15 percent color change with yellow leaves of average brilliance emerging, along with some red and gold. Rockland County spotters reporting from New City expect 20 percent color change with bright orange and yellow leaves appearing over the mostly green backdrop. At Bear Mountain State Park, color change will only be about 5 percent this weekend, with mostly green leaves dominating.

No significant color changes are expected on Long Island or in New York City.