Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
2020 Fall Foliage Map Shows You Where To Score The Best Anthocyanin In NY State
By
Jen Carlson
Published Sep 17, 2020
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
JUSTIN LANE/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
By
Jen Carlson
Published Sep 17, 2020
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Fall foliage season is here! At least, a glimmer of it is somewhere out there, outside of your apartment where you have been isolating as the seasons change. Are you going to venture out and find it? Maybe head upstate for some agritourism? Hit up a local corn maze and make a pretty nice little Saturday out of it? Oh, what manic highs the autumn weather brings, with its apple crisp air.
The Cornell University media relations office recently tried to temper our enthusiasm, however, firing off an email that stated, "New York leaf peepers can expect an average fall foliage." Excuse me, average? The tragic magic of millions of leaves turning color in death is never less than stunning. But let's hear these academics out.
Taryn Bauerle, associate professor of plant science at Cornell suggested that given the warmer, drier weather this year’s fall foliage could be mildly disappointing.
"I expect this year's fall foliage to be average compared to past years," she said. "The warmer weather and relatively dry season we've had are not ideal for optimal colors." She does offer some hope, adding "However, the forecast looking forward appears to have sunny days and cool nights, which will help to maximize leaf sugar production and keep it locked in the leaf resulting in the potential for more vibrant colors."
Daniel Weitoish, an arborist at Cornell Botanic Gardens, agreed that September's weather will help us reach optimal vibrancy — “With our hot and dry summer, it was looking like an average year at best for fall foliage, but the September forecast is looking great for anthocyanin production, the pigment responsible for red and purple colors. If sunny days and cool nights continue, we should see gorgeous reds and purples in maples, cherries, tupelos, and red oaks."
Your best bet right now will be "areas with higher elevations, like in the Adirondacks and Catskills, [which] tend to have cooler weather so you can expect trees in those areas to turn color first," Bauerle said. "The Finger Lakes region is usually only a few weeks behind, followed by New York City and Long Island."
The official I Love NY foliage map is now being updated, too, thanks to data collected by passionate humans across the state (as opposed to drones, apps, or fancy algorithms).
Tagged
autumn
fall foliage
foliage
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
'You Can See Everything' … as long as you go to Staten Island
Nathan Fielder’s Elizabeth Holmes documentary has been selling out across Manhattan and Brooklyn. Tickets to see the film, however, are very much available in other boroughs.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Oct 27, 2026
Inside the hidden chamber that controls Lincoln Center's magnificent fountain
Gothamist went behind the scenes to learn how the NYC landmark keeps its majestic waters flowing.
By
Sonia Rao
Arts & Entertainment
Inside the hidden chamber that controls Lincoln Center's magnificent fountain
Gothamist went behind the scenes to learn how the NYC landmark keeps its majestic waters flowing.
By
Sonia Rao
In the algorithm age, NYC college radio DJs are still broadcasting the funky stuff
By
James Ramsay
A Queens prop shop shutters, bunnies find a home uptown, and more openings and closings
By
Hannah Frishberg
A new film invites you to eavesdrop on one of the greatest conversations in NYC history
By
Sonia Rao
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .