2024’s Fall Foliage in Maine: Is It Set to Dazzle?

Fall in Maine is truly magical.

I know it feel just a smidge early to be talking about fall, but it really is only a month away at this point. In fact, as I look around my yard, I can see several trees that have already started to drop a few leaves. And even though fall colors are a sad but true indicator that winter is on the way, the show we get in return is usually amazing.

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Last year though, because of all the rain we got, colors around Maine seemed a bit on the flat side. We just kind of went from green to brown, without a ton of fanfare in between. So what about this year? Can we begin to predict at all, what the colors may be like come September/October?

This could be a fantastic year for foliage, but...

The bulk of this summer has produced favorable conditions that could indicate we're in for a doozy of a leaf peepshow. We've had a decent mix of sun and rain, and despite being a hot summer, the amount of precipitation we've gotten seems to offset that. But, we still have several more weeks to get through, and these next 4-6 weeks are crucial.

If we can keep temps right around normal, and we don't get pummeled with rain, we should have fantastic colors. If it starts raining like crazy, colors will dim significantly. So really, moderate rain is going to be the key. Essentially, too much rain or too much sun will spoil our colors. We're looking for that Goldilocks zone...

Does the weather look favorable?

When looking at the long-range forecast into September, things look pretty awesome. Temps and rain look pretty on-target for what we want to see. There's no major heat waves, and no major storms. However, one good visit from the remnants of a hurricane could skew this entire plan. So for a hundred reasons, let's hope for minimal hurricanes.

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As always, the colors move from north to south, starting usually in the last week of September. By the time we get into the first or second week of October, most places will be at peak. In the meantime, let's just keep our fingers crossed for an amazing display this fall.