As the first signs of autumn start to emerge across Washington State, experts are alerting the public that this year’s vibrant fall foliage may not follow the usual schedule.
Due to months of unusually dry weather, the famous fall color display could peak earlier and fade away more quickly than in previous years.
Paul Pastelok, a senior meteorologist at AccuWeather, noted that the typical peak color in the northern Cascades is around mid-October, with the rest of the state reaching its peak later in the month.
“We’ve fallen into a moderate to severe drought for most of the state. Trees sense that stress, and they’re going to try to shut down earlier than normal,” Pastelok explained.
He estimates that peak colors may arrive about a week to ten days earlier than usual.
Pastelok added that the combination of dry conditions alongside unusually warm days and nights does not favor the production of vibrant foliage.
“Typically, vibrant foliage thrives on cool September nights and a moist summer, so the balance has been off,” he said.
Moreover, the arrival of incoming storms from the northern Pacific could potentially disrupt the color display, causing leaves to fall before they achieve full color.
This means that early viewing could be more important than ever this year.
The transformation of leaf colors in the fall is a natural process that occurs each year, even if its timing shifts.
As daylight hours decrease and temperatures cool during the autumn months, chlorophyll—the green pigment that gives leaves their color—begins to break down.
As chlorophyll fades, other pigments such as carotenoids reveal themselves, resulting in the bright yellows and oranges commonly associated with autumn.
In the final stages, tannins remain as leaves prepare to drop, contributing earthy browns to the landscape.
The vibrancy of these hues, however, relies on a variety of environmental factors, including sunny days and cool nights.
While prolonged drought or unexpected frost can hinder the process, leading leaves to turn brown and fall prematurely, it’s essential to get outside and enjoy the changing scenery.
Based on fall foliage predictions from smokymountains.com, residents of western Washington can expect peak colors to appear on the following timelines:
– Whatcom, Skagit, Clallam, Thurston, Yakima: Around Oct. 7
– Chelan, Kittitas: Around Oct. 14
– King, Pierce, Snohomish, Jefferson, Mason, Gray’s Harbor, Kitsap, Pacific, Lewis, Wahkiakum, Cowlitz, Clark, Skamania: Around Oct. 21
Ray Larson, who serves as the associate director and curator at the University of Washington Botanic Gardens, emphasizes that Seattle’s fall appeal relies heavily on the interplay of timing and environmental conditions.
“Usually, peak for us is the third week of October,” Larson commented.
He noted that while some early changes are occurring, the overall experience will depend significantly on the weather from now until the end of the month.
At the Washington Park Arboretum, a well-known destination for fall foliage, visitors shared their excitement for the impending season.
Seattle local Ripley Rivers remarked, “It’s always so beautiful and such a nice time of year. I’m hoping for a lot of foggy mornings, the ones that are good for reading and having a hot cup of tea.”
Despite the lack of sweeping hillsides that characterize the East Coast in autumn, Larson highlighted that Washington’s unique combination of evergreens and flashes of seasonal color provides a fitting charm of its own.
“Here, you get that contrast with the dark evergreens and then these pops of color that really highlight it,” he noted.
Whether traversing mountain passes or enjoying a stroll in a local park, residents can anticipate a splendid display this fall, even if it may arrive a little earlier and last a little shorter than usual.
image source from：king5
