BOONE, N.C. — Howard Neufeld has been studying leaves for 20 years. He wanted to know why the leaves change in the fall.

What You Need To Know

  • Temperatures need to get colder overnight for the mountains to see fall color on time

  • The cooler temperatures bring the bright colors

  • If we see freezing temperatures that will cause the leaves to fall off

"The red acts as a sun shield and protects them from damage," Neufeld said.

Aside from a few trees, the mountains are still seeing mostly green. It's still a bit early for color, but Neufeld says we could potentially have a little longer to wait this year.

"If I was a bettor, and I was looking at this year where the latter half of the summer has been warmer than usual, and it's going to continue. The NOAA forecast continues that way. I would hedge my bets come later than earlier," Neufeld said

Neufeld has been running the Fall Color Guy Facebook page for 16 years and said over the past eight years the leaves are less predictable.

"The timing is getting more variable with climate change," Neufeld said

This year, he said, it has been a bit warm.

"Warm temperatures tend to dull the red colors, and cooler temperatures tend to make them more vibrant," Neufeld said.

It all depends on the weather in the next few weeks he said, but to play it safe you may want to plan your trip just a little later this year.

"At the 3,000 to 4,500-foot range which is most of the Boone, Blowing Rock and the (Blue Ridge) Parkway you are looking at October 10-20. If you're looking at the foothills, the 2,000-foot range, you're looking at the end of October. That is the same as Asheville city area and if you're looking at Chimney Rock, you're looking at the beginning of November," Neufeld said.