Fall color is getting a slower start in parts of Western North Carolina following an unusually warm September.
The average high at Asheville Regional Airport was just over 83 degrees last month, making it the fourth-warmest September on record for daytime highs.
Howard Neufeld, known as the “Fall Color Guy,” says warmer September temperatures can delay peak foliage. He expects peak color at middle elevations could arrive about a week later than usual this year.
The warmth can also cause trees to change at different times, making the overall display less vibrant.
Color is already increasing at higher elevations, including Grandfather Mountain. The highest peaks typically see their best color first, with the transition moving downhill through October.
Neufeld says sunny days and cool nights provide the best conditions for vibrant leaves. Cooler weather is expected this weekend, with mountain highs dropping from the 80s into the 70s.
