Old Farmer’s Almanac releases 2026 fall foliage map

The Old Farmer’s Almanac has released its 2026 Fall Foliage Map, an interactive tool that lets users track when leaves near them are expected to shift from green to red, orange, brown and yellow. The map shows week-by-week projections for near-peak, peak and past-peak color across the country.

According to the map, the most colorful leaf shows should begin in late September across northern states and higher elevations, then hit much of the rest of the country throughout October before reaching parts of the South in early November.

The breakdown by region, according to the map: New England generally peaks from late September through October. The Mid-Atlantic peaks from mid- to late October. The Great Lakes and Midwest span a broad window from late September through late October. The Southern Appalachians see their strongest color from mid-October into early November. In the West, the window stretches from mid-September through October, with mountain elevations changing before warmer lower valleys.

The timing can vary considerably, even within individual states.

Temperature, rainfall, drought, elevation, storms and wind can shift the timing of peak color by days or even weeks.

Once the leaves hit their brightest point, the colors usually only last about a week, the Almanac warns.