When will leaves start changing in Greater Akron and when will peak fall colors hit?

Some leaves are already starting to show some color in northern Ohio.

But the age old question of when the peak fall colors will arrive is still a bit of a mystery with some science mixed in.

There's only one person who truly knows when the peak of fall colors will be in Greater Akron and Mother Nature could not be reached for comment.

This hasn't stopped others from predicting the fireworks of fall colors in places like the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and even your own backyard.

Early predictions of when the leaves will change is not an exact science.

A lot of different factors determine when the leaves change and even how long they hang on.

The weather plays a major role from how hot it was over the summer to even the rain.

And then the fall temperatures have an impact, too, and just when the chilly fall nights set in.

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The past three falls in Ohio have experienced late peaks for foliage with the splash of color falling in late October for most spots, including Northeast Ohio.

These late peaks usually mean shorter peeper seasons as the weather in northern Ohio gets a bit more rainy and windy, meaning the colorful leaves do not stick around very long.

When will it be peak fall color in Ohio?

Knowing just when it will be a picture-perfect fall day for colors is just about anyone's guess.

But this hasn't stopped some experts in this sort of thing from making their predictions.

The folks at the American Forests group predict Greater Akron will see its peak of fall colors starting as early as Oct. 18.

The interactive Fall Foliage Prediction map produced by the SmokyMountains.com tourist site forecasts that northern Ohio will see peak leaf color the week of Oct. 16 this year, with the leaves starting to turn as early as late September.

The Farmer's Almanac , which has been making weather-related predictions since 1818, says Ohio peak fall foliage will fall between Oct. 5 and 21.

And the Old Farmer's Almanac that dates back to 1792 puts the peak of colors in northern Ohio closer to Halloween this year.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources is expected to launch its own fall color website that tracks changes across the state sometime in September and will provide weekly updates.

What are the first leaves in northern Ohio to turn?

Varieties like the red maples and sugar maples are usually the first to show some color in northern Ohio, followed in turn by the hickory and oaks.

Another factor, experts say, is whether a tree is under stress and if that is the case, it will shed its leaves first.

And there's a lot of science behind just how vibrant or drab a tree's leaf will be. These factors range from soil to weather to the tree's genetic makeup.

When is the first day of fall?

The first day of fall this year, also known as the autumnal equinox, is Sunday, Sept. 22.

According to the Farmer's Almanac, the exact time of the autumnal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere is 8:44 a.m.

There are technically two days that you could consider as the start of the fall season.

There's astronomical fall, which begins Sept. 22 with the autumnal equinox.

Some meteorologists also consider Sunday, Sept. 1 as the start of meteorological fall , which is based on the annual temperature cycle.

USA TODAY contributed to this article.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: When will leaves start changing in Greater Akron and when will peak fall colors hit?