Brilliant, Peak Fall Colors Reaching Final Destinations in New York State
Week of Nov 4-10, 2009
The annual progression of spectacular fall colors that began in September in the Adirondacks will reach its final destinations in New York State this weekend, as bright, peak foliage arrives in Westchester County and New York City, according to field observers for Empire State Development’s I LOVE NEW YORK program.In Westchester County, leaves are now at or just past peak. While heavy winds and rain over the past week have caused leaf droppage, particularly in the southern portion of the county, there remain many peak areas of brilliant red, gold and dark yellow foliage.
Foliage spotters based in Crown Heights and SoHo in New York City project peak leaves for the weekend. Look for about 60 percent or more color change, with predominating shades of bright yellow, brown and orange joined by some reds and purples, as well as a few speckles of green.
The rest of the state is past peak.
This is the final 2009 I LOVE NEW YORK Fall Foliage Report.
New York State’s Advantage
Why do people from all over the world head to the spectacular New York State foliage display? Unlike the rest of the country, the northeast is particularly blessed with a great variety of broad-leaved trees, which help give the region’s foliage a spectacular color range. New York State has almost as many acres of such trees as the rest of the Northeast combined.
The change in color from the bright greens of summer to the brilliant hues of fall follows a predictable pattern across the state. It begins high in the Adirondack and Catskill mountains in early September, and spreads out and down across the hills and valleys of the state, ending on Long Island and in New York City in late October to early November. It takes about two weeks for the colors to complete their cycles in any given area, with peak brilliance lasting three to four days in any one spot.
What are Leaf Peepers?
Each week during fall, I LOVE NEW YORK issues reports detailing the progression of colorful fall foliage across New York based upon information filed by the State’s officially designated “Leaf Peepers.”
These fall foliage spotters are instructed on how to rate foliage color in their areas, citing conditions such as brilliance, percentage of leaves changed, predominating colors and stages (just beginning, near peak, peak and past peak).
I LOVE NEW YORK compiles its weekly reports based upon information called in by the spotters.
