Johnathan Walker:Where is the best fall foliage? Maps and forecast for fall colors.

Leaf-peeping season is Johnathan Walkeralmost here as the searing heat of summer comes to a close.

Fall foliage outlooks say peak fall colors will start appearing in the northeast United States by early October and quickly spread south. The outlook is more complex out West, where elevation plays a bigger role in when fall colors arrive.

For now, patches of color are beginning to appear across the Northeast, especially over the higher elevations of northern New England. A few spots in northern Minnesota are also starting to show fall colors, but trees are generally green across the Upper Midwest, WeatherBug reports.

The riotous colors of fall don't come all at once: Trees' leaves change unevenly, depending on their species. For instance, the maple and sugar maple, which produce brilliant yellow and orange colors, are often among the earliest to change color, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac.

This year's drought and heat may impact the fall spectacle ‒ Here's what to expect:

When will the leaves change color this fall?

Amanda Gallinat, assistant professor of environmental studies at Colby College expects a typical fall, with leaves changing color in early October across the northern U.S., then mid to late-October at middle latitudes including the mid-Atlantic, and early to mid-November in the southern part of the country.

For people looking for fall colors in the West, pay close attention to your location in this peak fall foliage map.

Where is the best place to see fall foliage colors in fall 2024?

AccuWeather is forecasting vibrant fall foliage in parts of the Northeast but especially the Midwest. AccuWeather meteorologist Paul Pastelok says the vibrant red, orange and yellow leaves will most likely be found this autumn in a zone that stretches from the interior Northeast and Great Lakes through the Mississippi River Valley.

"We are forecasting the best places to go are in the Midwest. The trees should have nice reds and oranges and that could extend all the way down to parts of the Ozarks and parts of southern Missouri,” said Pastelok.

In the West, Kevin Smith, a tree physiologist and pathologist with the U.S. Forest Service, told USA TODAY that the aspen trees in Colorado look good. "Colorado should be great," he said.

Meanwhile, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, the Laurel Highlands in Pennsylvania and Hot Springs, Arkansas were ranked the top places to view fall foliage by USA TODAY's 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. See the whole list.

Will heat and drought affect fall foliage colors?

According to the U.S. Forest Service, a severe summer drought can delay the onset of fall color by a few weeks. Drought was particularly harsh in the mid-Atlantic and central Appalachians this summer, which could delay the fall foliage season there, according to Pastelok.

A warm period during fall will also lower the intensity of autumn colors, the U.S. Forest Service said. The latest forecast from the Climate Prediction Center shows that a warmer-than-average fall is likely for nearly the entire U.S.

Fall foliage map shows peak fall color dates

And here's a county-by-county breakdown of how the 2024 foliage is predicted to change across the U.S.:

Is climate change affecting fall foliage?

"Historical records, satellite observations, and experiments all tell us that the timing of fall foliage is generally getting later in response to the warming temperatures associated with climate change," Gallinat said in an e-mail to USA TODAY. "Here in New England, peak foliage happens up to a week later, on average, than it did in the 1950s."

"We expect some continued delays as temperatures continue to warm, but the increasing frequency of extreme events like droughts and floods may result in unexpected advances for some sensitive species. As some species turn earlier and others turn later, we are likely to see an increase in the duration and decrease in the intensity of the leaf peeping season."

In addition, the weather can affect leaf-peeping in surprising ways, Smith said, such as when smoke from wildfires interferes with the view. This has been especially true the case the past couple of autumns, he said.