REGIONAL— If you’re looking for fall color, this weekend should offer close to peak conditions across most of northern St. Louis and Lake counties, at least for those who favor the oranges and scarlets of the red maples.
We’re near the peak of the first of our three color seasons here in the North Country. The maples, which change a week to ten days ahead of the aspen and birch, should be at peak by this weekend, thanks to our recent spell of ideal fall weather, with chilly nights (even some freezing temps) along with sunshine and mild daytime temperatures, helping to spur the change.
Look for the golds of the aspen and birch to peak in the first ten days of October, followed by the tamarack, which typically bookend the color season in late October.
Whether our summer drought will impact this fall’s color remains to be seen. While the recent weather has likely helped spur the change, drought conditions typically dull the intensity of color.
If you’re interested in traveling in search of autumn’s display, you can check on conditions across the state by visiting the DNR’s Fall Color Finder page at https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fall_colors/index.html. The interactive map offers the current color status across the state as well as predictions of upcoming conditions through the rest of the color season. You’ll also find reports from Minnesota’s state parks, indicating the status of fall color for leaves, grasses, and wildflowers.
The weather forecast for the weekend looks favorable, with only a slight chance of showers under partly to mostly cloudy skies and temperatures in the mid-60s.