As summer draws to a close and we start to welcome all things autumn — and spooky-themed — there’s still one thing missing: fall weather, the last piece needed for the full fall experience.
So, when will we finally see those orange and yellow leaves that are the true sign of fall's arrival?
Fall officially starts with the beginning of the autumn equinox on Sept. 22, with the meteorological start on Sept. 1, though that doesn’t mean we will see any signs of fall quite yet.
The science behind fall foliage takes us back to our fifth-grade science class: as the fall days begin to get shorter with fewer hours of daylight, there is a lack of chlorophyll in the leaves and their true colors are revealed.
And, as our days get colder, trees protect themselves from the harsh weather by closing off veins that would normally carry water and nutrients from the body of the tree to the leaves. This lack of nutrients causes the leaves to eventually wilt and fall off the trees.
According to the Farmers’ Almanac, many leaves can begin to change colors as early as mid-September and all the way through early November, with mid-October being the typical peak fall foliage — but it all depends on where you live and your local weather conditions.
The Smoky Mountains Fall Foliage Map predicts the Greater Cincinnati area will see its first signs of fall foliage in the last week of September and first week of October. Peak foliage will occur in Greater Cincinnati sometime between the third and fourth week of October — right in time for Halloween.
So, though it may not feel like it just yet, fall is slowly but surely on its way.
