Fall colors nearing peak below 3,000 ft, color expanding east of mtns

By: Lead Forecaster Daniel Crawley

Good Sunday evening,

The final week of October is upon us and the fall color show is kicking into high gear. The combination of dry, mild afternoons and crisp, cool evenings has allowed the fall leaf season to end above 3500 ft and rapidly accelerate below 3500 ft in the mountains. The conditions has also allowed colors to blossom down into the Foothills and in general west of I-77.

These same weather conditions will persist through most of this upcoming week thanks to northerly flow at the jet stream level and a lack of moisture in the low levels of the atmosphere.

The focus on fall colors this week will be in some of the more populated areas in the North Carolina Mountains. Places like Asheville, Hendersonville, Brevard, Waynesville and Franklin could peak at some point this upcoming week. That would be roughly a week later than normal but it’s well worth the wait.

Some moderate color has spilled into foothill locations right along the escarpment. Those areas are still a full week away from nearing peak. Once you get into the Piedmont Counties just west of the Charlotte Metro area, colors will continue to blossom this week as they are probably two weeks away from nearing peak.

Looking at the long term weather pattern, things may start to get active after Nov 1 in terms of rain chances but it should not have major impacts on the fall colors. Meanwhile, get out and enjoy the 2026 fall color season in western North Carolina.