The ongoing drought in the Mid-Atlantic is likely to impact our fall foliage season here in our part of Virginia.
AccuWeather released its outlook for the 2026 fall leaf-peeping season this week, and, it’s not good.
What we can expect: leaves to change color and drop earlier than usual, meaning, a shorter viewing season than we’re used to.
“Recent rain can certainly help, but it can’t completely erase the impact of a difficult growing season,” said Paul Pastelok, the lead long-range expert at AccuWeather. “That’s why there could be a noticeable difference in the quality of the foliage over relatively short distances this year.”
Another factor to consider: AccuWeather is forecasting an uptick in tropical activity along the Mid-Atlantic coast, southern New England and parts of the Carolinas during September.
A tropical system bringing strong winds and heavy rain would also contribute to shortening the viewing window in affected areas.
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Chris Graham
