Despite the variability of temperature and rainfall due to climate change, scientists say the Asheville region’s fall foliage season remains the nation’s most vibrant and long-lasting.
“The reason is we have this tremendous range of elevation,” Howard S. Neufeld, Ph.D., known as the "fall color guy" and professor of biology at Appalachian State University said. “We also have a unique fall color here because we have more than 120 different tree species.”
2024 Fall Color Forecast
Neufeld predicts that fall color patterns will follow similar trajectories of previous years. Areas of higher elevation begin to change first, typically in September. He says “peak color” will likely be in mid-October, at elevations around 3,000 feet.
Changing Seasons: What Climate Shifts Reveal
Karin Gleason, monitoring section chief at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in Asheville, says temperatures across the country have increased half a degree every decade since 1965.
According to data from the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), the world’s largest archive of climate and weather data, monitored by NOAA, this summer Asheville saw above-average temperatures in June, followed by heavy July rainfall totaling about 10 inches – more than double the average for that month. Neufeld says the heavy rain remedied the drier-than-average June, helping contribute to a more vivid fall display.
Climate experts are observing changes in the fall season, including a prolonged window of summer weather extending into September and October. These summer temperatures and rainfall are influential factors in the colors displayed during fall.
As the cooler nights of autumn set in, trees respond by reducing their production of green pigments, unveiling vibrant hues of orange, yellow and red.
Similarly, Neufeld says, fall colors can spur transformation in humans, too.
“When people come to see fall color, they realize this is what nature can do and how beautiful it is. Hopefully, it puts into their minds the idea that we need to preserve these forests, so that their children can have the same experience they had.”
Asheville's Contribution to Climate Action
Asheville is a global hub for climate science. In addition to NOAA and NCEI, the city is also home to the U.S. Air Force’s 14th Weather Squadron, which provides climate services to defense and intelligence communities, the University of North Carolina-Asheville’s National Environmental Modeling and Analysis Center (NEMAC), which helped develop the U.S. Climate Resilience recommendations for the Obama administration, and The Collider, a non-profit and innovation hub built to support startups aimed at climate resiliency.
“It’s funny we have a climate center in Asheville because it’s so beautiful. I feel like it’s one of the perfect climates – especially in the fall,” Gleason said. “The overall upward trend in temperatures is not encouraging, but Asheville’s location has certain advantages, in terms of a more moderate climate due to the elevation of the mountains compared to much of the Southern U.S.”
Fall Color Resources for Journalists
· Up-to-the-minute Color Spotting | For the latest information on Asheville fall travel, including weekly color reports, a fall foliage tracking map, and autumn adventure ideas, visit ExploreAsheville.com.
· Photos and B-Roll | For a rights-approved fall color photo gallery, click here. B-roll footage from fall 2023 is available here. For up-to-date b-roll requests, please email media@exploreasheville.com.
· Climate Data Resources | A video interview with Karin Gleason, NOAA monitoring section chief, talking about climate trends and projections for fall (1:18) and what makes Asheville unique from a climate perspective (4:13). The recording is available here and can be repurposed for broadcast.
· NCEI’s Climate at a Glance tool allows users to observe climate trends from any global location over a specific period.
· Expert Sources | For more detailed information, expert contacts, and any other requests, please get in touch with the PR Team at media@exploreasheville.com.
· New This Fall | From fall festivals to new restaurant openings, check out the latest happenings and events to help round out a fall adventure here.
More Ways to Experience Fall in Asheville
· Views from Above | Get an eagle’s eye view of nature’s showiest season from the basket of a hot air balloon, with Asheville Balloon Company. Navitat Canopy Adventures’ ziplines offer spectacular views from one mountaintop to another for a thrilling aerial adventure through the treetops.
· Fluttering Through | Starting in Sept., thousands of monarch butterflies make their annual journey through the Blue Ridge Mountains, as they migrate to Mexico for winter. This guide lays out the best spots to encounter monarchs, often in synchrony with fall colors. A new River Arts District gallery, On The Wing, showcases more than 150 different species of butterflies in sustainable entomological art pieces. This August, the Asheville Butterfly Trail spreads its wings with 15 human-size butterflies scattered across town. The trail, led by Bee City Asheville, includes information about each of the native species represented, their pollination ecology, sustainability, and metamorphosis.
· Travel Softly | There are plenty of ways to give back to nature on a trip to Asheville, ensuring future generations can enjoy nature’s beauty and healing – from trail cleanups with WNC Photo Tours to “Hoppy Waters” waterway service projects that end with a beer social.
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