PENNSYLVANIA, USA — A sign of the season, the Pa. Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has started releasing its weekly fall foliage report.
The report, released every Thursday throughout fall, shows how leaf colors are developing throughout the Commonwealth. A map shows which areas have leaves that are starting to change, approaching their best colors, and even starting to fade.
"Pennsylvania is literally translated to Penns Woods," said Ryan Reed, the natural resource program specialist in the Bureau of Forestry for DCNR's communications section. "And we're so fortunate that over 60% of our state is covered in forests. It really is the strength and the backbone of our state."
When referencing how fall foliage is developing so far for the 2024 season, Reed described the year as a "push-pull effect."
"Throughout the growing season, we had several long periods of dryness and one of the reactions to dryness for trees is to stop producing chlorophyll, and bring on almost like a false fall," said Reed. "So, we had those dry periods and it pushed a lot of early change."
However, Reed emphasized the cold nights throughout late August and early September helped slow down the development of color.
"We need those good, cold, nice, dry and sunny days with highs in the 60's or low 70's," said Reed. "Once we get back into that rhythm again, we're going to start seeing that transition to color."
For the week of Oct. 3, DCNR reports that all south-central Pa. counties have leaves that are starting to change. Reed said people can start expecting to see fall foliage at its peak in late October.
As for suggested spots to view fall foliage in south-central Pennsylvania, Reed said there are a number of options.
"The Michaux State Forest, and then the Buchanan State Forest. We're talking roughly 160 or 170,000 combined acres of state forest lands," said Reed.
You can find the weekly fall foliage reports here.