Last week, we experienced what some are calling “fake fall” in the Charlotte area. Temperatures were cooler and we couldn’t help but notice a hint of color among the trees. When will we see fall colors in North Carolina in 2024? It’s almost real fall, folks!
Fall Colors in North Carolina 2024
The News and Observer is absolutely right. The fall colors make you want to do all things fall like picking apples, tasting apple cider, or making these delicious homemade apple fritters. There’s a perfect place near my house in York County called Windy Hill. Yummy. But I digress. Let’s talk about fall colors in North Carolina.
It’s all about temperature, precipitation and genetics
The United States Forest Service says the timing and intensity of fall color depends on a few crucial factors. The experts say it depends on temperature and precipitation. The genetics of the trees also play a role. This is a direct quote from the News and Observer about fall color in North Carolina. “According to the Forest Service and NC State University’s College of Natural Resource, the brightest fall colors follow a warm, moist spring, a temperate summer and warm, sunny fall days with cool (but not freezing) nights. If it’s too dry during the growing season, the leaves may change color early. If the fall is too warm, the colors may fade.”
Well, spring has been a mishmash of conditions and weather. The experts say March was rainy, but April is hotter and drier than usual. In short, this will not be a model for fall color in North Carolina 2024. But it will be beautiful by mid to late October. Check out the Farmer’s Almanac for more information. We can expect the first splashes of color in the higher elevations of western North Carolina in the last week of September and the first week of October.
Fall colors in North Carolina 2024 will peak in the mountains in the second or third week of October. Be sure to make your fall color trip before mid-November. The experts say the show will be over by then. If you happen to be in West Jefferson, North Carolina during the last week of October, you might catch me. Happy fall everyone!
.
Catherine Lane is the morning show co-host and midday host at Country 1037 in Charlotte, North Carolina. She has worked for the station for 24 years and was honored as Major Market Personality of the Year by the Academy of Country Music. Catherine has been on both radio and television in the Queen City for 38 years. As a content creator for Country 1037, Catherine writes blogs about local events and restaurants. She also writes about great travel destinations and off-the-beaten-track places in the Carolinas. Everything about nature, travel, food, animals or the many country artists from the Carolinas.
