CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Congratulations, fall lovers. You've almost made it.
With the calendar turned to September and football season in full swing, many people are already looking ahead to all the fun fall activities in the Carolinas. And with the Panthers looking not-so-great, you might have more time for hayrides and the pumpkin patch.
But one of the most beloved traditions in the Carolinas is enjoying the beautiful fall color in the Blue Ridge Mountains and foothills.
Millions of people flock to the North Carolina mountains each year to see the fall foliage and with views like you get along the Blue Ridge Parkway, it's easy to see why. The picturesque landscape is something that should be on everyone's bucket list with beautiful orange, red and yellow leaves as far as the eye can see across the peaks and valleys of the Appalachian Mountains.
When to expect peak color in North Carolina
While we can't say with certainty the exact time of peak color, we do have a good idea of when it's going to happen. WCNC Charlotte Chief Meteorologist Brad Panovich recently shared some maps with the average peak color across western North Carolina, all the way from the Tennessee state line into the Charlotte metro.
"It's time to start planning fall color viewing," Panovich said.
The earliest peak color is expected in the highest elevations. Peaks in western North Carolina usually see their best color by mid-October. This includes areas like Cullowhee and Waynesville. That's typically around 4,500 feet to 5,000 feet elevation.
Peak color typically happens a week later in places at slightly lower elevations. This includes Beech Mountain, Sugar Mountain and Grandfather Mountain. Peak color here typically arrives between Oct. 13-18. For folks who love to cruise the Blue Ridge Parkway, this is the sweet spot for fall color, including the iconic Lynn Cove Viaduct that wraps around the face of Grandfather Mountain.
Other locations that usually have peak color by this time include Banner Elk, Blowing Rock, Boone, Linville and Newland.
If you can't make it up to the mountains this fall, don't worry. It's a short trip to the foothills, where peak color typically arrives in late October and into November. This area stretches from Morganton along Interstate 40 to Statesville and south into the Charlotte metro.
In fact, peak color in Charlotte usually doesn't happen until after Halloween, whereas locations in the mountains will be past peak before the end of October.
What causes fall color?
When it comes to generating beautiful fall foliage, there's nothing better than those cool, crisp nights. It's also important to keep in mind that peak color forecasts are all dependent upon the elevation and weather, so peak dates can vary from season to season. Fall color lasts a long time in the Carolinas, so we'll be seeing the beautiful leaves from now until mid-November.
Here are the average peak fall color dates in North Carolina, according to WCNC Charlotte chief meteorologist Brad Panovich.
Asheville: Oct. 25-30
Banner Elk: Oct. 7-12
Boone: Oct. 7-13
Charlotte metro: After Nov. 5
Cullowhee: Oct. 25-30
Grassy Creek: Oct. 19-24
Hendersonville: Oct. 25-30
Hickory: Oct. 31 to Nov. 4
Lenoir: Oct. 31 to Nov. 4
Morganton: Oct. 31 to Nov. 4
Taylorsville: Oct. 31 to Nov. 4