Fall foliage in the North Carolina is running almost two weeks later than normal this year due to the unusually warm start to autumn. 

  • Fall foliage is starting to appear in the NC mounatins.
  • Elevations of 4,000 feet or more should see peak fall colors this weekend or early next week.
  • If you're heading up this weekend to see the colors, Sunday will be the best day. 

Now, more than halfway through October, data from the Southeast Regional Climate Center shows this has been the warmest fall and October to date on record for Asheville.

 

 

 Cooler weather has finally arrived through in much of the state allowing the mountains to see more fall color in recent days. That should allow elevations over 4000 feet to see their peak color change for the season this weekend or early next week.

Overall, the color may be somewhat muted this year due to the warmer early fall temperatures. Some trees also lost their leaves when what was once Hurricane Michael passed through the state earlier in the month.

There should still be some beautiful fall scenes in western North Carolina over the next several days. The best views this weekend will likely come along the Blue Ridge Parkway including the Grandfather Mountain area  and Mount Mitchell and Mount Pisgah closer to Asheville.

If you are making the trip to see the fall color in the mountains this weekend, Saturday will be cloudy for much of the day with showers mainly in the morning.  Clearing is forecast for Saturday night with gusty winds.   Low temperatures in the Boone area will drop to near freezing Sunday morning with a wind chill in the low 20s.   A full day of sunshine is expected Sunday with highs only in the 40s.