AccuWeather Fall Foliage Forecast: Will Autumn Leaves Show Off In RI?

RHODE ISLAND — Fall foliage may be muted in Rhode Island this year, according to the newly released 2022 AccuWeather fall foliage forecast.

The first day of fall is Thursday, a time many Americans start planning fall foliage excursions. Persistent drought conditions may dull the leaves in some areas known for their brilliant foliage, while timely rains in other parts of the country promise to deliver colorful displays to leaf peepers.

In Rhode Island, fall foliage is expected to under perform, according to AccuWeather. Weather experts said the muted foliage is likely due to early leaf drops from the lack of summer rain. As of early September, leaves have already started to turn brown and crispy across parts of Connecticut and Rhode Island.

Perfect conditions to set up the vivid yellow, reds and oranges associated with fall are cool air and ample summer moisture, followed by cooler, drier falls, according to Paul Pastelok, the lead long-range weather forecaster for AccuWeather.

Below are AccuWeather’s forecasts for specific regions of the country popular for leaf-peeping tours:

Northeast and New England: Pastelok said the dry summer stressed many trees across eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, southeastern New York and southern and central New England.

New England isn’t a total bust, though. Leaf peepers planning to visit Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and northern New York should put off their trips until the second or third week of October to see the leaves at their pinnacle. Typically, leaves peak in late September and early October in that part of the country.

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Great Lakes and the Upper Midwest: In general, the peak season may be a little late but worth the wait across the Upper Midwest, Great Lakes and parts of the Ohio, Tennessee and Mississippi valleys, according to Pastelok.

Leaves may fall sooner than usual with the arrival of strong cold fronts with gusty winds across Minnesota and Michigan, he said, noting the fall foliage peak is expected in late September in places such as the Superior National Forest in northern Minnesota.

Rocky Mountains and Northwest: The bright yellow leaves of the aspen trees in Colorado high country will be “better this year,” Pastelok said.

In the northern Rockies and interior Northwest, consistent, ample moisture since winter will make for vibrant colors this year, he said, adding Bighorn National Forest in northern Wyoming is a good place to visit this year.

For more specific information, check out the full AccuWeather fall foliage forecast.

To zero in on fall foliage changes at the county level, check out the handy 2022 Fall Foliage Prediction Map from SmokyMountains.com.