As August comes to an end, fall makes its approach, with pumpkin spice returning to coffee shops, apple orchards reopening for picking and a slight chill winding through the air.
However, it cannot truly be fall in Vermont until the leaves change colors, and luckily, this year will see another beautiful show, according to the fall foliage forecast from Yankee Magazine. But when exactly will the leaves turn, and what specicially can be expected out of this autumn foliage season?
Here's the full forecast for fall foliage in Vermont this year, according to Yankee Magazine.
Vermont fall foliage forecast 2025
According to Yankee Magazine forecaster and foliage reporter Jim Salge, New England will likely see plentiful, beautiful foliage colors this year.
"New England is known for its beautiful fall weather, which is also paramount in bringing out the best fall colors," Salge said in the article. "We know it's going to be beautiful – it always is."
While the various factors that contribute to fall foliage can make autumn colors difficult to predict, the best indicator for the season is the past year's weather, explains Salge.
Following a drought last fall, New England saw a lot of rain this spring, with rain falling for twelve Saturday's straight in May and June. This rain allowed the trees to recover from last year's drought, giving them necessary moisture for colorful leaves in the coming fall. However, the timing of the rain also caused the development of fungus, which may hinder fall color on some trees.
"Since that rainfall overlapped with the critical leaf-out period, some fungus did set up on tree leaves," said Salge.
This summer's persistent humidity caused early fungal problems to hold on in the leaves, with hickory, striped maple, oak and cherry trees showing significant fungal stress in specific areas across New England.
On the opposite end of the rainfall scale, the lack of rain throughout this summer is starting a new cycle of drought. These dry conditions will likely cause fall colors to emerge earlier this year, especially in northern New England, with Salge noting that some trees on ledges and roadsides are already starting to brown. Drought can also shorten the duration of the fall color showcase, but on the other hand, it can make fall colors brighter, with lots of bright reds shining through.
Despite these complications from fungal growth and drought, Salge predicts that this year will be no exception to the typical colorful beauty of New England fall. The best case scenario for autumn leaves, Salge says, is that the coming weeks see warm, dry weather in New England.
"If we get a string of warm, sunny days and crisp, clear nights leading up to the trees changing, it will set the stage for a spectacular color show," said Salge.
More: This road trip can take you to see New England fall foliage in 4 states. Check it out.
When will fall foliage peak in VT this year?
According to Yankee Magazine's Peak Fall Foliage Map, foliage in Vermont will peak in late October. Colors will start to become vibrant in mid to late September, with leaf color fading out in early November.
This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: How will the fall colors be in Vermont in 2025? See forecast, timing
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