Beautiful fall colors continue to arrive across New York State, with near-peak leaves expected to make their first appearances this weekend in parts of the Adirondacks. This is according to the field reports from volunteer observers for the Empire State Development Division of Tourism’s I LOVE NY program.
In the Finger Lakes, Steuben County spotters in Corning, Hammondsport, Hornell and Bath predict up to 40% change this weekend with yellow, red and orange leaves continuing to emerge through the green landscape. Chemung County spotters in Elmira expect 35% leaf change with bright shades of red, orange and yellow becoming more prominent. In Cayuga County, spotters in Auburn predict up to 25% change with mostly yellow and brown leaves. In Ontario County, spotters in the Honeoye and Canadice areas anticipate nearly 25% leaf change with some yellow and orange leaves.
In Tompkins County, Ithaca foliage reports predict 20% change with orange leaves of average brilliance, along with some dark red and yellow leaves popping out from the green treetops. Spotters note that more color change is taking place on Rt. 89 along the west side of Cayuga Lake than is on area hillsides. In Livingston County, observers in Geneseo predict 20% change with bright yellow leaves and some pops of red. Spotters in Monroe County reporting from Rochester expect between 10-20% change with an increasing amount of yellow and tufts red and orange leaves on a few trees. Greater changes can be seen on the eastern and western side of the county, with less change in the city and north to Lake Ontario.
In the Adirondacks, foliage is expected to be near-peak this weekend in parts of Franklin County, with spotters predicting 75-80% color change around Tupper Lake and Mt. Arab. Look for a bright display of maize, banana, daffodil, clementine, mustard, yam, burnt sienna, ginger, beet, rhubarb, raspberry, paprika and pimento-colored leaves of above average brilliance. Spotters in Saranac Lake anticipate midpoint to near-peak foliage with at least 50% color change and plenty of yellow, orange, red, green and even some purple leaves. Foliage will be approaching midpoint of change in the Malone area, where spotters anticipate 40% transition and green, yellow, orange and red leaves.
In Essex County, spotters reporting from Wilmington, Jay, Upper Jay, and Au Sable Forks predict near-peak leaves with up to 85% color change and a mix of average and bright deep purples, reds, and golds providing the foliage base, along with splashes of bright reds, yellows, and oranges. Foliage spotters at Whiteface Mountain Ski Area in Wilmington predict midpoint to near-peak leaves with more than 50% color change and very bright shades of red, green, yellow, orange and purple. Lake Placid spotters are predicting that the leaves will be at midpoint of change with 45% change. In the Cascades, brilliant yellows are dominant, and in the village average to bright shades of red are showing more each day. Look for foliage approaching midpoint of change in Newcomb, with 35% transition and bright reds and oranges, along with some golden and yellow leaves. Crown Point spotters at the Lake Champlain Visitors Center predict up to 15% change with a few small, sparse areas of russet, yellows and golds, and some oranges and reds. Ticonderoga area leaf spotters expect a little more than 5% foliage change with mostly green leaves and some muted orange and brown hues.
In Herkimer County, spotters in Old Forge expect near-peak foliage with 60% change. Red and orange leaves of above average brilliance are starting to pop, along with plenty of bright shades of yellow and gold coming in over the remaining green. In Clinton County, Plattsburgh observers anticipate up to 40% change with red leaves of average brilliance. In Hamilton County, spotters in Lake Pleasant predict foliage at midpoint of change with 50% transition highlighted by quickly emerging average to bright red and orange leaves. Spotters checking in from Long Lake predict 50% change with primarily green and yellow shades, along with pockets of bright red.
In Lewis County, spotters in Lowville expect a little more than 15% change with touches of yellow and orange leaves appearing over the mostly green backdrop. In Warren County, reports from Queensbury predict more than 25% foliage change with a mix of muted fall colors, while Lake George spotters anticipate 20% change and small groupings of trees tinged with orange and yellow leaves, plus occasional pops of red.
In the Capital-Saratoga region, Albany County spotters at Thacher State Park in Voorheesville predict up to 35% foliage change this weekend with average shades of yellow, orange and green, along with some wisps of red. Reports from Cohoes Falls in Cohoes predict more than 10% change with a muted to average mix of yellow, orange and some red leaves over the otherwise mostly green backdrop. Fulton County observers in Northville anticipate 15-20% change with some dark-red and yellow leaves. Saratoga County spotters in Saratoga Springs anticipate at least 10% change with a mix of muted fall colors.
In the Catskills, foliage in Ulster County at Belleayre Mountain Ski Area in Highmount will be at midpoint of change this weekend with up to 60% transition and an increasing amount of yellow and red leaves of varying brilliance. Spotters in Kingston expect more than 20% change with green, yellow, and some orange leaves. In Delaware County, foliage spotters in Downsville anticipate leaves nearing midpoint of transition with 40% color change and red and yellow leaves amidst the green. Spotters in Deposit predict up to 40% change with yellow, red and green leaves, while spotters in Walton expect 30% change with a growing number of yellow and orange leaves. In Delhi, spotters anticipate 20-30% foliage change with muted green, burnished yellow-gold, and some red leaves. Observers reporting from Bloomville and Hamden predict 20% change with mostly orange leaves.
In Greene County, spotters reporting from the upper elevations around Windham predict up to 40% leaf change with green, red and yellow leaves of average brilliance, while foliage spotters in Catskill predict 10-15% change with a mix of orange, yellow and red leaves. In Sullivan County, spotters in Forestburgh, about 20 miles from Port Jervis, expect 15% change with splashes of red, yellow and orange. Observers stationed at the Sullivan County Visitors Association in Liberty expect a little less than 10% change with some muted shades of red and orange emerging.
In Central New York, Chenango County foliage reporters in Norwich are predicting up to 40% change this weekend with red, orange and yellow leaves of average brilliance. Herkimer County spotters in Herkimer are anticipating 30% change with an assortment of muted fall colors emerging. Broome County spotters in Binghamton are predicting 25% leaf change with bright green leaves accented by pops of red, orange and yellow. In Schoharie County, spotters in Cobleskill predict 15% change with muted yellows and oranges.
In Oneida County, leaf spotters in Utica predict more than 10% change with a few pops of yellow leaves appearing over the mostly green landscape. Otsego County observers in Cooperstown anticipate a little more than 10% change with muted yellow and orange appearing through the primarily green landscape. In Madison County, spotters reporting from Owera Vineyards in Cazenovia expect a little more than 5% foliage change with yellow, brown and red leaves of average brilliance. In Montgomery County, spotters in Fonda predict around 5% change this weekend and still mostly green leaves.
In Onondaga County, spotters reporting from Burnet Park in Syracuse predict more than 30% color change with some average to bright red leaves appearing over various shades of green. Spotters from elsewhere in the city, including Upper Onondaga Park, predict 15% foliage change with some emerging yellow and orange leaves of average brilliance. In Ontario County, spotters in Canandaigua predict about 15% change with mostly yellow leaves, while reports from Marcus Whitman Middle School in Rushville expect less than 5% change. In Cortland County, spotters in Cortland predict 10% transition with mostly muted yellow leaves.
In Tioga County, spotters in Owego anticipate 15% leaf change with green, yellow and some orange leaves of average brilliance. Wayne County observers in Lyons are predicting a little less than 10% change with areas of emerging yellow, orange and red leaves of varying brilliance. In Yates County, reports from Penn Yan predict 10% foliage change and still mostly green leaves. In Cayuga County, foliage spotters in Fair Haven and Cato predict about 5% change with muted shades of yellow and gold. Schuyler County spotters reporting from Watkins Glen and Hector expect more than 5% change with some tinges of muted yellow and orange emerging on the tops of maple trees.
In the Chautauqua-Allegheny region, Cattaraugus County spotters at Allegany State Park in Salamanca predict that leaves will be at midpoint of change this weekend with 45% transition. Maple leaves are very bright with yellow, orange and some traces of red, while there is still some green coloring on the oaks and other trees. The next two weekends should be the best times to see the seasonal foliage in the park. Spotters in Randolph predict 30% change with yellow leaves and pops of red. In Chautauqua County look for 25% foliage change with an average to bright mix of beautiful greens, reds, oranges, and yellows in Jamestown, at Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, in the Lake Erie Grape Belt, and along I-86 through the Sherman and Findley Lake area.
In the Greater Niagara region, Erie County spotters reporting from Springville predict 30% change this weekend with muted shades of yellow, along with notable leaf droppage. Genesee County spotters in Batavia are anticipating a little under 20% foliage change with more yellows and reds of average brilliance coming through the green.
In Erie County, foliage spotters in Buffalo predict 15% change with golden yellow and plum leaves of average brilliance. In the southern portion of the county, spotters in East Aurora predict a little more than 10% foliage change with muted burnt yellow, orange and brown leaves. In Niagara County, spotters in Niagara Falls anticipate a little more than 5% color change with a few red and yellow leaves.
In the Thousand Islands-Seaway region, Jefferson County spotters in Alexandria Bay expect foliage to be at midpoint of change by the weekend with 60% color transition and yellow, orange and red leaves of average brilliance. Look for 15-20% foliage change in Oswego County, where average shades of green continue to dominate the southern end of the county, and bright orange, red and yellow shades are beginning to transform the northern landscapes. In St. Lawrence County, reports from Ogdensburg predict 5-15% change this weekend with scattered touches of yellow and orange-red leaves.
In the Hudson Valley, Columbia County spotters in Hudson predict 15% change this weekend with average shades of yellow and gold, and a few splashes of orange. In Dutchess County, foliage reports from Beacon and Fishkill are anticipating 10% leaf change with a mix of fall colors of average brilliance emerging. Spotters in Poughkeepsie predict a little more than 10% foliage change with still mostly green leaves.
In Rockland County, observers in New City predict 15% change with some red, yellow and purple leaves of average brilliance. In Westchester County, spotters in White Plains expect about 15% foliage change this weekend with pops of muted red and yellow leaves. Orange County reports from Goshen predict more than 10% change with some pops of red and orange. Spotters in Newburgh and Cornwall expect less than 5% change, with just a few touches of fall color. In Putnam County, spotters in Cold Spring do not expect any significant foliage change this weekend.
On Long Island, Suffolk County observers at The Nature Conservancy in Mashomack Preserve on Shelter Island predict 10% change this weekend with dogwoods and Tupelo trees beginning to show some red leaves. Foliage spotters reporting from Montauk Point and the East End predict 10% foliage change with mostly green leaves of muted brilliance. Spotters at Sunken Meadow State Park on the North Shore predict 5% change with a smattering of trees, including sycamores and black locusts, starting to show initial signs of change while others are largely unchanged.
In Nassau County, reports from Hempstead Lake State Park in West Hempstead expect more than 15% leaf change with mostly bright Kelly-green leaves along with visible patches of crimson and rust, while spotters nearby in East Meadow predict well under 5% change. Observers in Wantagh predict a little more than 5% change with muted splashes of rust and soft orange showing in some maples. Foliage spotters reporting from Valley Stream State Park predict no significant change.
In New York City, spotters on the Upper East Side of Manhattan predict up to 10% change this weekend with touches of red and yellow leaves beginning to appear. Reports from the Lower East Side predict around 5% change. In The Bronx, observers reporting from Ferry Point Park predict about 5% foliage change with some yellow leaves appearing within the mostly green canopy, while spotters in central Brooklyn expect about 5% change and muted to average green-yellow leaves.
