Columbus Day Holiday Promises Great Foliage | WeatherBug
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Columbus Day Holiday Promises Great Foliage

May 7, 2017
By WeatherBug Meteorologist, Andrew Rosenthal
What a difference a week makes, especially for residents of the East! Although still a bit slower than an average fall, the colors are responding just in time for Columbus Day weekend. Meanwhile, peak colors are showing up across some parts of the Upper Midwest, with brilliant colors marching southward.

Astronomically, the first day of fall was September 23, when the sun`s perpendicular rays cross the equator. Each day is getting shorter, and this causes a chemical reaction in the leaves that leads to the color changing. As days become cooler and shorter, the trees ability to make chlorophyll, a pigment that keeps the leaves green, decreases and causes the leaves to become red, orange and purple. 

Northern Minnesota is approaching, and in a few cases, passing their peak colors. The peak is now located from Moorhead, Minn., to the Arrowhead, encompassing much of the northern half of the state. Meanwhile, moderate colors spread across southern Minnesota, much of Wisconsin and into Michigan.
While the best fall colors are still only visible along U.S. Routes 2 and 10, it won`t be too far of a drive from the major cities to get to brilliant colors. If you want to see moderate colors in the Twin Cities, your best bet is to hop on Interstate 35 or 94 - north or west, respectively - and you should be able to find numerous jumping off points to catch great colors. Similarly, it`s an easy trek from Chicago, and Madison and Milwaukee, Wis., to get to great colors. Utilize Interstates 39, 41, and 43 to get there.

Peak colors have moved into the higher elevations of the Northeast. While this is somewhat further north than in most years - which typically see peak colors in the entirety of New England - it is a sign that Columbus Day has some fall tricks up its sleeve. Moderate colors are visible across most of New England, and even as far south and the Appalachians. Even residents of the lower elevations can expect to see the trees changing yellow through the weekend.
For those willing to make a trip to northern New England, consider Interstate 87 from New York City and Albany, N.Y, Interstates 89 and 91 from southern New England, or Interstate 93 and 95 from the Boston area. Smaller roads such as U.S. Route 2 and U.S. Route 201 will take you from these highways into the colors. If you want to stay closer to home, consider Mass. Route 2, or N.Y. Route 17. Both of these freeways head into the hills to provide access to some bright hues.

In the Mid-Atlantic, Interstates 68 and 70 will take you from the Baltimore and Washington area into the best colors, where numerous crossroads will allow you  a nice day trip. Consider U.S. Routes 40, 219 and 50 to loop around Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. For a longer trip, consider using Interstate 81 into the Shenandoah Valley and following the National Park Service`s Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway.

The extended holiday weekend looks great for much of the northern tier. A cold front passing on Friday will bring a few showers to the Eastern Seaboard, but the Columbus Day weekend will be marked by brilliant sunshine and high pressure after that. The biggest fly in the ointment may be on Monday, with a few showers across the Great Lakes. Temperatures in the East will be a reminder that fall is here: 50s and 60s will be common, with 30s and 40s at night. Warmer temperatures will be found in the Mississippi Valley, with plenty of 60s and 70s.

Over the course of the autumn, WeatherBug Meteorologists will provide an outlook on the foliage conditions across the eastern two-thirds of the U.S. This will include an updated map of conditions and details of these great colors. WeatherBug will also give some suggestions of roads to take for a leaf-peeping road trip, and a forecast for the weekend so you can know what to expect as you visit the colors.

Be sure to check your WeatherBug every week throughout the season to find out which region is seeing the best colors. Plus, don`t forget to share your foliage photos using our photo section of our website and mobile applications available on your smartphone and tablet.