DNR map shows when stunning fall colors may arrive in Minnesota

Crisp fall weather, even if it'll be short-lived , has alighted in Minnesota. And so, fall colors are on the mind. Things are still looking green outside, but it won't be long before the leaves are turning colors, apple orchards are bustling, and Halloween decorations line the streets.

The MN Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has released its Fall Colors Map , which now comes with a slider to reveal when fall colors have come throughout Minnesota in the past.

It's a handy tool that uses historical data to show when peak leaf season will hit in different regions of the state. It is not, however, a forecast of when they'll arrive this year.

The map shows 50-75% of leaves changing in the Iron Range as early as Sept. 24 historically, with most of the northern half of the state deep into fall colors by Oct. 1.

From Oct. 9–13, the area around the Twin Cities has seen the same, a time when large swaths of the rest of the state are past their peak.

While the DNR's map uses past data, a similar annual map from SmokyMountains.com shows predictions for fall colors across the country. It largely agrees with the timing if not putting the date for peak leaf peeping slightly later.

Check out both maps to make plans for when you can make plans to appreciate the fall colors.

Related: The not-so-cold, hard facts of warming Septembers in Minnesota