Will New England see 'vibrant' foliage this fall? What forecasters are saying about 2024

Seth Jacobson, USA TODAY NETWORK - New England

The colors of fall foliage always seem to captivate people in New England, along with visitors from other states who come to view the annual phenomenon.

But not all years are created equal. The weather plays a large role in whether the leaves are vibrant, average or dull. Warm days and cool nights make for the best conditions, as well as healthy forests that received enough rain during the summer months, but not too much rain.

This year, AccuWeather meteorologists are forecasting that 20 states in the U.S. in particular will see "vibrant" foliage because of above-average rainfall in those areas.

Here's what they're predicting in New England.

What's the fall color prediction for New England?

An AccuWeather graphic showing the hot-spots in the country for leaf-peeping this fall.
An AccuWeather graphic showing the hot-spots in the country for leaf-peeping this fall.

Massachusetts and the rest of New England are going to have a "typical" season of fall foliage, according to AccuWeather.

“The better spots for colorful fall foliage are forecast to be in parts of upstate New York, western New York, and central and northern Pennsylvania," according to AccuWeather lead long-range expert Paul Pastelok.

Some parts of New England are actually forecasted to be "dull."

“We expect more yellows and browns with typical to dull fall foliage along the East Coast," Pastelok said in a written statement. "We've had a lot of precipitation already and more rain is expected to persist going through early fall. If you factor in additional tropical moisture coming out of the southeast up into the northeast at times, that could also lead to mold development and inviting a lot of insects. We're looking at warmer and more humid conditions later in September for the East, so expect some duller colors."

What are other forecast saying?

Yankee Magazine, which puts together one of the premiere fall forecasts for New England every fall, is predicting a big show this year, so it might not be so typical.

"So far, the setup suggests that New England’s fall foliage outlook is fairly bright, but fall conditions need to continue to cooperate," Jim Salge, a forecaster and foliage reporter at Yankee magazine said. "The forest looks healthy, vibrant, and full of energy, and therefore primed for a big show."

With some sunshine in the fall, be predicted the forests could be redder than the average year with the leaves hanging on a little longer.

Fall foliage: Why 2024 is shaping up to be a great fall foliage year in Massachusetts

What states are predicted to have 'vibrant' foliage this fall?

According to AccuWeather, the following 20 states should have vibrant color this year:

  • New York

  • Pennsylvania

  • Ohio

  • Michigan

  • Indiana

  • Illinois

  • Kentucky

  • Tennessee

  • Mississippi

  • Arkansas

  • Louisiana

  • Texas

  • Oklahoma

  • Missouri

  • Iowa

  • Kansas

  • Nebraska

  • South Dakota

  • Minnesota

  • Wisconsin

This article originally appeared on wickedlocal.com: New England fall foliage 2024: See AccuWeather's color forecast

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