When do leaves change color in Tennessee? What to know about fall foliage across the state
Fall is around the corner and with it comes the changing of the leaves.
Tennessee is a state with a wide variety of climate patterns. With mountains in the east and the river delta in the west, the timeframe for when leaves will change color in Tennessee varies across the state.
Summer officially comes to an end on Saturday, Sept. 21 and the first day of fall is Sunday, Sept. 22. Shortly after this, parts of the state will see colors begin to change.
Here are the times to watch out for to see the leaves change color according to the Old Farmer's Almanac.
When will leaves change colors in Tennessee?
In general, leaves in the South are expected to reach peak color around mid-October at the earliest, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. Here's when colors should start to change and when leaves will reach their peak across Tennessee:
East Tennessee will see colors begin to change between mid-to-late September. Leaves are expected to peak in mid-October and trees will lose their leaves by mid-November.
Middle Tennessee will have colors begin to change in mid-October. The color change should peak in early November. Trees are expected to lose all of their leaves by mid-to-late November.
West Tennessee will begin to see colors change in mid-October. The color change is expected to peak around early November. Trees will likely lose all of their leaves by late November.
Where are the best places to see leaves change colors near Tennessee?
The Old Farmer's Almanac named the 20 best places to see the leaves change color. Fortunately for Tennesseans, there are several places in and around the Volunteer State to visit.
Ozark Mountains, Arkansas
Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia and North Carolina
Buckhorn Lake State Park, Kentucky
Vogel State Park and Chattahoochee National Forest, Georgia
Gatlinburg and Smoky Mountains, Tennessee
Even if you don't want to drive too far to see some colorful fall foliage, Tennessee has 58 state parks where residents can go see the leaves change without having to leave the comfort of the Volunteer State.
Why do leaves change colors in the fall?
As sunlight decreases and the cold increases, the production of green chlorophyll in leaves begins to slow. The decrease in chlorophyll is what causes the colors to change from green to red, orange or yellow colors in the fall.
This is why the times when leaves change vary so much across the world. Areas with more exposure to cool weather in September and October will have their leaves change sooner than areas with less exposure.
According to the Smithsonian, orange and yellow colors occur naturally in leaves while dark reds and purples take a little more work.
It says, "Darker red leaves are the result of a chemical change: Sugars that can get trapped in the leaves produce new pigments (called anthocyanins) that weren’t part of the leaf in the growing season. Some trees, like oaks and dogwoods, are likely to produce red leaves."
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: When will leaves change color in Tennessee? Fall is almost here
