Peak fall color moves south in New England before holiday weekend
Fall color is at or near peak in New Hampshire's western White Mountains and northern and western Maine, state reports show. Color is spreading south toward central Vermont and New Hampshire's Lakes Region in time for the Columbus Day weekend. Early leaf drop has started in the highest spots.
Peak leaf season is rolling south through northern New England just in time for the long Columbus Day weekend.
In New Hampshire, the western White Mountains are near peak, with 65% to 90% color change, the state's Oct. 6 foliage report says. Pinkham Notch showed a "showstopping mosaic" of orange and red over the weekend, and Franconia Notch is coated in gold and red. Farther north, the Great North Woods is at peak or past peak, and leaves are dropping near the Canadian border.
Southern New Hampshire is still turning. The Monadnock Region shows 45% to 70% change, the Lakes Region 35% to 50%, and the Seacoast 30% to 40%. The state suggests Route 113 north from Holderness and Route 202 from Rindge to Hillsborough for color drives this week.
Vermont's Northeast Kingdom and northern Green Mountains peaked over the weekend, foliage photographer Jeff Folger reported Monday. He found Smuggler's Notch at peak on Saturday, but also early leaf drop in high spots and around Strafford. He expects color to move south into Woodstock, Quechee and Killington and along Route 100 for the holiday weekend. In New Hampshire, he points to Conway, Tamworth and Eaton.
In Maine, the north and west hit peak last week, the state's Oct. 1 report said, with low leaf drop. Folger guesses the Maine coast near Bar Harbor will peak around Oct. 13 to 17.
Maine has tracked fall color this way for decades. In 1959, forestry commissioner Austin Wilkins began collecting reports from forest rangers and sharing them with radio stations. Rangers still supply the reports today.
The weather looks friendly for leaf peepers. High pressure should keep most of New England dry into Saturday, the Boston Globe forecast. Expect heavy traffic and full parking lots on popular routes. Folger found Smuggler's Notch lots filling by 7:30 a.m. on Saturday. New York's next statewide report comes out Wednesday afternoon.
What we know: Peak color is in the White Mountains and northern Maine now and moving south.
What we don't: How much color will survive wind and rain before the weekend.
Where outlets agree Visit NH and the Jeff Foliage report both say the western White Mountains are at or near peak, with color moving south and east.
Where they differ Jeff Foliage reports past-peak spots and early leaf drop in Vermont and the high notches, while Visit NH calls the western White Mountains near peak, so how long the best color lasts is unclear.