Despite Henri, Fall Foliage in New England Is Still On!
Yankee Magazine’s NewEngland.com Publishes 2021
Fall Foliage Forecast for New England and Beyond
“The weather patterns shaping up for this fall look promising for a beautiful and classic show,” says Yankee Foliage Expert Jim Salge
DUBLIN, NH (August 23, 2021) – For those worried about whether the weather – specifically Henri – will affect the upcoming fall foliage season, fear not! Despite wet conditions this weekend, the leaves are in great shape and ready for their big show, says Jim Salge, Yankee Magazine’s longtime fall foliage expert and a former meteorologist at the Mount Washington Observatory.
While there was significant anxiety leading up to the storm, it weakened quickly onshore, sparing New England widespread wind damage,” says Salge. “Rainfall was heavy, but our fall foliage forecast is already based on wet conditions, except in far northern New England, which again remained largely dry.”
In Yankee ’s annual fall foliage forecast, just published on NewEngland.com , Salge takes a detailed look at all the factors that will eventually determine how the foliage will play out. Starting with last winter’s unusual weather (historic snow in December, but 60 degrees on Christmas), a dry spring and wet summer (it was a great year for blackberries and mushrooms), and the potential impacts from leaf fungus (mostly on oaks this year) and the LDD moth (the insect formerly known as the gypsy moth has done some damage), many variables are at play this year. Most importantly, leaf peepers should note that the timing and intensity of color will vary from north to south:
Northern New England
Near the Canadian border, spring was dry and summer rains failed to ease the drought. Even if there are warm and wet periods this fall, strong cold fronts and cool breaks will likely cause these dry forests to turn earlier than usual. This means that a bright punch of vibrant but short-lived color should arrive across New England’s northern tier in late September.
Central and Southern New England
Farther south, the setup for autumn remains encouraging, despite the pockets of insect damage and a lingering potential for rainfall-fed fungus growth. Generally, fall color tends to last longer after a wet summer; combining that with a forecast for continued warmth, we expect a season that is either on time or later than historical averages. This means that the wave of peak color will slide south and to the coast over the course of October.
As to the fall weather forecast itself, which will have the biggest impact on foliage, Salge says, “The weather patterns shaping up for this fall look promising for a beautiful and classic show.”
Starting now and lasting throughout the fall season, NewEngland.com will feature extensive foliage reporting including weekly hot spots for foliage locations, an article on foliage for novices, interviews with Jim Salge, updated forecasts, suggested outdoor activities and events, a list of recommended foliage day trips from NYC, and much more.
Also, for the first time, NewEngland.com has published its national fall foliage predictions. Highlights include:
Mid-Atlantic – autumn colors that are later than normal, brief, and abruptly bright
New York – foliage that is timely, bright, and beautiful
Southeast – historical average peak times, but be prepared for a brief show
Upper Midwest – a banner foliage year in some states, decreasing the farther west you go
Mountain West – an early and brief color show, but a great year for aspens in Colorado
Pacific Northwest – with a summer that’s so far outside its climate averages, foliage is hard to predict
The new September-October print issue of Yankee magazine also includes a wealth of fall coverage, including the editors’ favorite day hikes in each state, 31 ways to enjoy fall in New England, and Jim Salge’s five favorite places in New England to view foliage. Yankee ’s September-October issue is available where magazines are sold and will also be available for free on NewEngland.com for a limited time.
For more information, please visit newengland.com/yankee-magazine or visit on social media:
@yankeemagazine
#weekendswithyankee
WeekendswithYankee.com
About Yankee
Based in Dublin, New Hampshire, Yankee : New England’s Magazine was founded in 1935 and is the iconic American magazine covering the finest that New England has to offer. Covering classic New England travel destinations, food traditions, and home and lifestyle stories with stunning photography and artwork, Yankee has featured many notable American writers in its pages such as Robert Frost, John Updike, and Stephen King.
With a total circulation of nearly 275,000 and a total audience of 1.3 million readers, the magazine is published by Yankee Publishing Inc. (YPI), an independent media company. Yankee has also partnered with WGBH to produce Weekends with Yankee, a 13-episode documentary series on public television that taps into Yankee ’s extensive behind-the-scenes access to the region’s six states.
YPI also owns the nation’s oldest continuously produced periodical, The Old Farmer’s Almanac, Family Tree, and McLean Communications. More information about Yankee is available at: https://newengland.com/press-contact/