Peak foliage is getting close in the Midstate

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Drought conditions brought an early start to our foliage this year. Although the colors may not be as bright, peak foliage is near.

It’s something we look forward to every year. Leaves turn different colors and tourists flock to states like Tennessee to see the stunning display the trees put on.

This year, a severe drought had leaves changing colors way ahead of schedule. Hurricane Helene’s remnants also stripped the trees of their leaves in many spots, including the mountains of East Tennessee. To see the impact of these weather events on the foliage, check out this article.

Peak foliage in most of Middle Tennessee occurs in late October or early November.(WSMV)

For an area like Nashville, peak foliage occurs in late October or early November. This year, the colors may not be as bright, but trees will still be colorful.

As of right now, our foliage is patchy or moderate at best. The cooler temperatures we’ve had this week will help accelerate the rate at which the leaves begin changing colors.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the U.S. Millions of people flock to the parkway to see the vibrant colors in some of the highest elevations. Due to the impacts of Hurricane Helene, many roads are closed there.

If you plan to visit the National Park, which is experiencing peak foliage right now, make sure to check which areas are open. There are still widespread trees down, power outages, and roads washed away in the parkway.

Peak foliage is expected in just weeks for Middle Tennessee.(WSMV)

Thanks to our friends at ExploreFall.com, you can see the latest foliage across the country. Notice in the mountains of East Tennessee and Western North Carolina, some spots are already at peak foliage.

Locally, I think you’ll notice a very rapid change in colors over the next few weeks. If you capture any good pictures of foliage locally, we’d love to see your pictures. Feel free to share them here.