Shorter days and cooler temperatures are already spurring the annual fall foliage change in the High Country among native trees such as dogwoods and sourwoods.
Appalachian State University biologist Howard Neufeld says peak times for the Boone area are on schedule for mid-October. Closer to the Triad, Pilot Mountain should be at its most showy the first week of November.
Neufeld has been tracking fall foliage in North Carolina for more than 15 years. He says climate change has made predicting the peak colors more difficult. But our region may be better off than most.
He explains that we live in what’s known as “the warming hole.” Temperatures have risen less in the Southeast than elsewhere in the country.
“So for a little while now, or for a little while into the future, climate change will be a factor," he says. "But it won't be as much of a factor, say, as maybe up in New England, where they've had much more warming than we've had.”
For those who want to see the mountain leaves up close, Neufeld has a few tips. He says to plan a mid-week trip, if possible, to avoid the crowds on the Blue Ridge Parkway — or avoid it altogether by picking another scenic mountain route.
Also, the parkway still has construction going on close to the popular Doughton Park area, so folks should plan accordingly.