U.S. 2025 Foliage Forecast: Anticipating Peak Color

The 2025 season for enjoying autumn leaves has kicked off throughout parts of the U.S., with some regions already displaying early fall colors.

Peak hues, however, remain on the horizon. A travel company, utilizing a comprehensive data model that incorporates past and predicted temperatures, rainfall, local tree species, ongoing trends, and user input, has mapped out the timing of peak leaf coloration across America.

Here's what you can anticipate:

As autumn advances, foliage transforms first in northern regions, moving progressively toward the south. By mid-October, areas such as the Mid-Atlantic, Great Lakes, and much of the West will have reached their vibrant color zenith. In contrast, certain southern states and the lower Midwest are expected to peak later, from late October through early November. Meanwhile, peak foliage in the Deep South, Southern Plains, and Florida might not occur until mid-November.

The most striking leaf displays are achieved under conditions featuring warm, sunny days followed by cool, crisp nights that avoid freezing.

Forecast by Region

Autumn Temperature Trends

These trends are connected to a broader warming pattern. Predictions from the National Weather Service indicate warmer-than-average temperatures nationwide, with significant increases expected particularly in the Southwest and Northeast.

Rainfall, however, is expected to decrease below average in much of the Southwest and Southern Plains, with only the Pacific Northwest and Southeast experiencing above-average precipitation.

Since 1970, fall temperatures have increased in every county across the contiguous United States, with the Southwest experiencing the most rapid increase.

Between 1970 and 2024, average fall temperatures climbed by 2.8°F across 237 cities. These unusual warm autumn days are now a common occurrence in the majority of U.S. cities analyzed.