Check weekly for the latest fall color updates as we track the changing leaves and best viewing spots with 9&10 News Chief Meteorologist Michael Stevens.
2024 Fall Color Map | October 25
Week 9: That’s All, Folks!
We had some beautiful fall color this year! It’s quickly fading now, and leaves are dropping. It will be peak to past peak across all of Michigan from here on out. I hope you enjoyed the season!
–Chief Meteorologist Michael Stevens
2024 Fall Color Map | October 17–25
Week 8: Last Call for Fall Color in the U.P.
This week we will start to see leaves turning past peak for all of the Upper Peninsula. The Lower Peninsula will see some inland areas transition to past peak while the lakeshore areas should display beautiful colors!
It has been an up and down month-and-a-half for areas with unusually above-average temps and drier-than-normal conditions. Now we are returning abruptly to where we should be in terms of typical fall color changes.
If you want to get to the Upper Peninsula, NOW is the time! If you want to see areas of the Lower Peninsula, you still have a week or two, especially near the lakeshores.
–Chief Meteorologist Michael Stevens
Plan Your 2024 Michigan Fall Color Tour
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- Travel to 10 Upper Peninsula Waterfalls for Stunning Fall Color
- 10 Not-to-Miss Fall Color Hikes in Northern Michigan
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- Stay in a Treehouse During Northern Michigan’s Fall Color Season
2024 Fall Color Map | October 10–17
Week 7: IT IS BEAUTIFUL!
What a week we have seen! The fall colors are really starting to pop inland for the Lower Peninsula and all over the Upper Peninsula. This is the beautiful scene we all expect and love across Northern Michigan.
Over the next week, we will see areas transition to past peak in the Upper Peninsula and peak for most inland locations in the Lower Peninsula.
We are experiencing abnormally dry to even severe drought conditions in Northern Michigan because of our lack of rain and very warm temperatures in September. This stressed the trees, and with our colder temps now, the leaf change is becoming quick and short-lived.
If you have plans to visit lakeshore areas, this week and next week are looking like the best time to do so. If you want to check out the U.P., do it this weekend or early next week.
–Chief Meteorologist Michael Stevens
2024 Fall Color Map | October 3–October 10
Week 6: Colors Should Be Ramping Up!
While we sure enjoyed the sunshine last month, the heat did delay fall color a bit. We had one of the warmest Septembers on record for Northern Michigan and mix that in with a lot of sunshine and you have a leaf-changing backup! However, some areas of the U.P. should be experiencing peak colors now.
The leaves were under the impression that it was time to change their colors but the sun said, “Just kidding I am still here!” So the leaves have been trying to photosynthesize as much as possible which is delaying the reds, oranges and yellows we’re all excited for. When the leaves do change, this could mean a few things.
One of the things to watch for is a quick change. Rather than a gradual change, many spots that experience a cold snap and less sunshine could mean a quick change to full color. The other thing that could happen is a big storm system with a lot of wind might start stripping trees of leaves regardless of whether they have changed.
Keep your eyes on the trees and be ready for the color to pop!
–Chief Meteorologist Michael Stevens
2024 Fall Color Map | September 26–October 3
Week 5: Peak is Showing!
We are starting to experience cooler air, and rain has arrived just in time! We are seeing 50% color through all of the Upper Peninsula and some spots are even seeing near-to-peak colors. The Lower Peninsula is starting to see 50% color for inland areas. The cooler nights and daytime highs, along with less sun and rain, are helping us along. Peak color will happen throughout the entire U.P. within the next two weeks while the Lower Peninsula will peak during mid- to late-October. Enjoy the colors!
–Chief Meteorologist Michael Stevens
2024 Fall Color Map | September 19–27
Week 4: We are back on track!
So far this year, we have been about a week and a half early for every season. From winter to spring, spring to summer, and even summer to fall, we were seeing changes early. However, our late blast of September heat has changed that for most areas.
Now, we are exactly on track to our usual leaf change timeline in Northern Michigan. It’s mid-to-late September, and we are seeing great color in the Upper Peninsula—the peak will be in early October! The Lower Peninsula continues to see splashes of color, but full-blown trees of color will come in early October and peak around mid-October. The lakeshore areas will be seeing a peak in mid-to-late October.
The recent heat has confused the trees a little bit, and dry conditions have been stressing plants, but thanks to our nice summer weather we will still get the colors. We just need to get back into cool crisp nights and normal daytime temperatures sooner rather than later. Enjoy!
–Chief Meteorologist Michael Stevens
2024 Fall Color Map | September 12–19
Week 3: Big Changes!
We are getting into mid-September and are seeing pops of fall color across most inland areas in both the Lower and Upper Peninsulas, but big changes are on the horizon! This is the time we go from pops of color to seeing full trees ablaze in a brief period of time.
Now, with all of that being said, we have a few things that could delay this a little bit. We have a very sunny, dry and warm weather pattern forecasted until the end of September. Temperatures will be well above average and dry conditions may slow leaves from changing by a few days to maybe a week. There is a good chance that next week’s full-tree change gets pushed back several days.
Overall, things are still looking good! Most of the Lower Peninsula will see some color while the U.P. has color everywhere, especially inland where we will start to see 50% change between Sept. 16–19. Enjoy!
–Chief Meteorologist Michael Stevens
2024 Fall Color Map | September 5–12
Week 2: Meteorological Fall
As we look back at the rainfall totals and the temperatures over the last three months, we can see just how things should shape up this fall in regard to leaf colors. We can get a good sense of how the trees will respond coming out of summer, and the good news is, it should be a vibrant, on-time change! We saw above-average rainfall for most areas and temperatures were slightly above normal throughout summer leaving trees unstressed.
As of now, we are seeing pockets of colors across the interior portions of the Upper Peninsula and Lower Peninsula. Not full-fledged fall color by any means but spots of trees that are changing before we start seeing full change over. We are already seeing many trees darker greens slowly fading into lighter greens and this will continue with crisp, cool nights and seasonable daytime highs. We want to avoid hot weather and freezing temperatures!
Over the next week, we can expect some full tree color in the interior Upper Peninsula with pockets of colors in the Lower Peninsula to slowly spread as well. The AuSable Valley has been seeing some of the colder nights and this area will probably be the start of those pockets of color heading toward the middle of September. We are starting to see full color in southern Ontario along Lake Superior, so it’s on the way!
Enjoy the next month of change for Northern Michigan! It should be a good one!
–Chief Meteorologist Michael Stevens
2024 Fall Color Map | August 29–September 5
Week 1: Prep
We are cruising right along and all of sudden it is September! You may have already started to see dark purple leaves on some trees as early as mid-August in spots, which is about on time. Dogwood and some maples are always the first to change and this is the color you get. It leads up to the amazing colors we see from mid-September through October.
Lets talk about what we are seeing, and when things should really change!
Right now we have those patchy pockets of dark purple on trees, but it is not widespread by any means. With this summer being decently wet and a little on the warmer side, we continue to be a week to a week and a half early on seasonal change.
We should start to see color change early/mid September for the U.P. and inland for the Lower Peninsula. Peak for these areas should be around late September to early October. Areas closer to the big lakes should see plenty of color by mid/late September but peak should be around mid-October with the latest spots at the end of October.
With the decent rains this summer and slightly above average temps the trees weren’t too stressed. This is good for step 1! Now we need to cool gradually, just slightly above freezing or a nice crisp morning, and avoid gusty winds. Cool, dry fall days with a bit of cloud cover should really allow the colors to pop amazingly this year. We want to avoid heavy rains and gusty winds as this can strip us early of beautiful colors as leaves fall from the tree.
Fall is my favorite season, and I can’t wait to see what Mother Nature has in store for us this year! Enjoy!
–Chief Meteorologist Michael Stevens