Colorful peak foliage will spread throughout the Finger Lakes, and debut in the western portion of the Greater Niagara region and areas of the Hudson Valley, according to volunteer observers for Empire State Development’s I LOVE NEW YORK program. Wind and rain in parts of the state are expected to contribute to additional leaf droppage. I LOVE NEW YORK defines “peak” foliage as the period when the leaves are displaying their best overall appearance of the season.
Foliage in many areas of the Finger Lakes region is expected to reach peak this weekend. In Monroe County, spotters reporting from the Rochester suburb of Brighton expect peak to just past peak foliage with 70-75 percent color change and clusters of green-light green, yellow and gold leaves, along with shades of red and russet. The yellow-leafed trees are beginning to be more prevalent, providing warm shades of gold despite increased leaf droppage. Spotters reporting from north of Rochester near Lake Ontario are calling for near peak foliage with 70 percent color change and yellow and green leaves of average brilliance. Trees in the area range from almost bare to green leaves.
In Cortland County foliage will be at peak this weekend. Expect 65 percent color change and various shades of orange. Ontario County spotters are predicting 90 percent color change and peak foliage by the weekend with a muted to average mix of orange, yellow, red and brown hues. Mostly subdued in tone, occasional bright trees can be spotted creating pops of color. The view is fantastic from high elevations such as atop Bristol Mountain or from Harriet Hollister Spencer Park, as well as lakefront areas like Seneca Lake State Park. In Onondaga County, spotters reporting from the Onondaga Creekwalk in Syracuse are calling for 75-90 percent color change with peak to just past peak leaves of brilliant yellow with hints of orange and red. Spotters reporting from the campus of Syracuse University expect 50-60 percent color change with average shades of yellow and orange, along with a few reds, and near peak foliage.
Steuben County foliage will be at peak this weekend, according to spotters in Corning. Expect nearly complete leaf transition and bright red, burgundy, gold, yellow and orange leaves. Tioga County spotters reporting from Owego are calling for peak conditions with 90 percent color change and red, orange, green, brown and yellow leaves. Overall, foliage will be peak in Tompkins County, according to spotters in Ithaca. Color change is nearly complete and, depending on the hill, the colors are either at peak or slightly past peak, with deep shades of purple and varying shades of red, yellow, orange and brown. Livingston County spotters checking in from Geneseo expect peak to just past peak foliage with more than 60 percent color change and average to bright yellow, gold and crimson leaves.
Schuyler County leaf peepers in Watkins Glen predict near peak foliage with 80-90 percent color change and muted shades of orange and red. Spotters in Auburn are also predicting near peak foliage this weekend in Cayuga County. Expect 70 percent color change and green, orange, red and yellow leaves of average brilliance. In Yates County, spotters in Rushville say foliage will be 30-35 percent changed with mostly green leaves, along with reds and yellows of average brilliance.
In the Greater Niagara region, Erie County spotters in Buffalo are expecting peak conditions with 50-60 percent color change and average to bright shades of gold and yellow, along with some emerging shades of red and orange. Spotters reporting from the Springville and Boston areas expect past peak foliage this weekend with 95 percent color change highlighted by yellow and some orange leaves. Genesee County spotters reporting from Batavia project peak to just past peak foliage with 75 percent color change and muted to average shades of orange, yellow, red and green. Peak to past peak foliage will arrive in Wyoming County, according to spotters in Perry. Expect 80 percent color change and brilliant leaves in shades of red, yellow and orange.
Near peak foliage should arrive in Orleans County this weekend, according to spotters in Albion. Look for 75 percent color change and yellow, orange and red leaves of average brilliance. Many leaves have fallen due to the season’s dry weather and wind. Niagara County spotters in Wheatfield are predicting peak foliage with 50 percent color change and bright shades of red, orange and yellow.
In the Hudson Valley, look for a mix of peak and past peak foliage in Columbia County, with 85 percent color change and average to bright golden orange, yellow and green leaves of average brilliance. Dutchess County should be peak by the weekend with up to 50 percent color change, marked by yellow and orange leaves. Bright, peak color is anticipated in Orange County, according to spotters in Goshen. Look for nearly complete leaf transition and glowing reds, yellows and oranges.
In the lower portion of the region, spotters in New City in Rockland County expect peak foliage with 75 percent color change and bright orange, red, yellow and purple leaves, along with some remaining green. At Bear Mountain State Park, spotters are expecting near peak foliage this weekend with 65 percent color change and muted to average gold and red leaves, along with plenty of remaining green. Many trees are thinned out. In Westchester County, spotters in White Plains are projecting peak foliage with 50 percent color change and bright green, red and orange leaves.
In the Capital-Saratoga region, peak foliage is expected throughout Rensselaer County. In the eastern and northern parts of the county, look for 80-90 percent color transition, while the western and southern parts should expect 70-85 percent color change. Colors range from bright, purplish-reds through all shades of red, orange-red orange and yellow, plus some remaining green. Most locations have significant leaf droppage. Peak foliage will arrive in Saratoga County, according to spotters in Saratoga Springs. Expect 95 percent color change and bright shades of yellow, red, orange and green. Spotters reporting from Glenville in Schenectady County expect near peak foliage this weekend with a variety of yellow, orange and red leaves of average brilliance.
Spotters at Thacher State Park in Albany County expect 90 percent or more color change this weekend with past peak conditions and subdued shades of yellow, along with some brown and green leaves of average brilliance and considerable leaf droppage. In Fulton County, spotters reporting from Lapland Lake Nordic Vacation Center expect past peak foliage with nearly complete leaf change and a variety of yellow and brown shades.
In Central New York, expect peak foliage with 95 percent color change in Chenango County, according to spotters in Norwich. Look for bright red and orange leaves along with much droppage. Spotters at Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site in Fort Hunter are calling for peak foliage in Montgomery County this weekend with 75 percent color change and bright yellow leaves along with some orange and hanging on deep reds. Madison County foliage spotters reporting from Rt. 31 along Oneida Lake expect 75 percent color change and peak conditions, with orange, yellow and red leaves of average brilliance.
In Binghamton, leaves are past peak with 75 percent color change and bright fall colors of yellow, orange and red. Leaf transition is nearly complete in Oneida County and foliage will be past peak this weekend. Foliage is mostly past peak in Otsego County, according to spotters in Cooperstown. Expect 90 percent change with yellow, orange and some remaining green leaves of average brilliance.
In the Adirondacks, Essex County spotters in Crown Point expect peak foliage with more than 90 percent color change and average shades of gold, yellow and bronze, along with some shades of orange, russet and a little red. Color change is greater as you climb away from Lake Champlain. Wind and rain have pushed foliage in Ticonderoga to just past peak. This weekend look for nearly complete color transition and bright leaves of orange and various shades of red. In Warren Countylook for peak foliage in the southern and middle portion of the county with average to bright shades of yellow, orange, rust and red, along with plenty of remaining green. The northern portion of the county will be past peak.
In the Catskills region, Ulster County should be at peak this weekend, according to spotters in Kingston. Look for 85-90 percent color change and bright to very brilliant yellow, red, orange and purple leaves. Delaware County will be past peak with nearly complete color change and muted gold and red leaves. Greene County will be past peak, but some good color should remain at Kaaterskill Falls and along the Kaaterskill Clove.
In the Chautauqua-Allegheny region, peak foliage should arrive in Chautauqua County this weekend, according to spotters in Chautauqua. Look for 65 percent color change and average to bright leaves of varying shades of orange, red and yellow, along with remaining green. Foliage in Cattaraugus County will be past peak. Look for 80 percent color change with gold, green, brown, orange and rust leaves of average brilliance.
In the Thousand Islands-Seaway region, look for 80 to nearly 100 percent leaf change and peak foliage in Oswego County, which has seen an increase in color over the past week. Broader swaths of the woodlands are painted bright shades of red, yellow and orange while fewer areas of muted green, orange and purple remain. Jefferson County is now past peak with nearly complete color transition. Look for red, orange and gold leaves of average brilliance this weekend. Foliage will be past peak in St. Lawrence County, with 85 percent change and green, red, yellow and orange leaves of average brilliance.
On Long Island, foliage will be about midpoint of change this weekend in the western portion, with some areas near or at peak and other areas just starting to change, according to spotters in Nassau County. Look for changes around 50 percent with yellow, orange, red, purple and green leaves of average brilliance. Color change is still expected to be low in the eastern part of Long Island. Spotters reporting from Riverhead in Suffolk County expect just 20 percent change with red, purple, yellow and green leaves of average brilliance.
In New York City, spotters reporting from the Morris Park neighborhood in The Bronx expect foliage to be at midpoint of change this weekend with 30 percent color change and light green, yellow and red leaves of average brilliance.
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