Stunning autumn display predicted for Washington, Greene counties
Jim McNutt / Observer-Reporter Fall foliage has begun to appear in Washington County like this tree, which had already shed some of it’s colorful maple leaves Tuesday behind a home on West Country Barn Road in Chartiers Township.
Jim McNutt / Observer-Reporter Bright red leaves stand out against a lake cast in blue from the bright sky Saturday at a farm along Hamtom Road in Nottingham Township.
Jim McNutt / Observer-Reporter Trees are beginning to turn like the maple leaves on one tree in the distance along Hickory Ridge Road in Chartiers Township as fall foliage comes to Washington County.
With temperatures forecasted in the 70s this week, it certainly doesn’t feel like autumn is in the air – but it’s starting to show on the trees.
Green is gradually giving way to red, orange and yellow, and the state Bureau of Forestry is predicting a stunning display of foliage this fall.
“Penn’s Woods had regular rain and good growing conditions in spring and summer,” the department’s weekly foliage report said. “General conditions foretell an early and spectacular autumn festival of color. Recent frost in the northern counties and cool nights elsewhere with clear bright days favor earlier peak dates this year.”
The bureau reported the early wardrobe change of the leaves on maple, dogwood, ash, blackgum and sassafras trees “should result in a longer than normal autumn display” as long as the weather remains favorable.
In Washington and Greene counties, the trees have reached 10 to 15 percent of their full color capacity, according to the bureau. Northern counties – including McKean, Potter, Tioga, Bradford and Susquehanna counties – have already reached 50 to 80 percent. AccuWeather meteorologist Tom Kines said that has a lot to do with temperature and elevation. In low-elevation areas, he said the third week of October is typically best for colorful displays.
Kines said the beneficial rain over the summer will contribute to healthy foliage, as long as no heavy rains or winds are in store, which can shorten the time leaves remain on the trees.
“We’ve been spoiled,” Kines said of the unseasonably warm weather in September. “It would be awesome if the weather pattern would hold another couple of weeks, not only because it’s warm, but winds have been light and the sun has been out almost every day.”
He noted “all good things must come to an end,” and colder weather is on its way, perhaps as early as this weekend.
But at least autumn lovers can bring the scarves out of storage, sip hot chocolate and rejoice that the weather matches the scenery of the season.