Foliage forecasters predict state’s colors will turn soon

Despite the cancellation of most 2020 events, nature’s attraction is on schedule. Due to the summer’s drought, forecasters are predicting an early start to the fall foliage season this year. A projection for warmer-than-usual temperatures for the early part of autumn also suggests it could be a relatively long foliage season, they say.

“Current conditions are setting the stage for an earlier start to the fall foliage season, with ‘peak color’ happening not all at once, but lasting several weeks in parts of the state,” said Chris Martin, Connecticut state forester.

As of now, the vast majority of Connecticut ranks as “very low” on the state’s official foliage index. Only the Northwest Corner and the northeastern corner have advanced to “low” stage.

Leaf-peepers should expect that to change sooner than in a regular year, said Gary Lessor, chief meteorologist at Western Connecticut State University’s Connecticut Weather Center.

“The conditions are so dry and the trees are stressed, so they’ll be starting (to change colors) sooner. In many neighborhoods we’re already seeing the tips of the maples showing signs of color,” Lessor said.

Connecticut’s rainfall for the year is about 9 inches less than usual. About 8 inches of that deficit was in June, July and August, when temperatures also were warmer than usual.

The state got more than three-quarters of an inch of rainfall in the first three days of September, but is now back to an outlook for dry, warm weather ahead, he said.

“If the temperatures cool off drastically in September, that would rush the entire season — it would be a quick one,” he said. “But we’re expecting that temperatures will be a little above normal, and that could be enough to make it a long one.”

The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection maintains a frequently updated webpage where foliage viewers can see region-by-region conditions around Connecticut: tinyurl.com/y57wrmul.