When to expect fall foliage in the Pacific Northwest in 2024

PORTLAND, Ore. ( KOIN ) — Meteorological fall is already underway as of Sept. 1 and astronomical fall is weeks away — and that means Pacific Northwest trees are preparing for their moment in the spotlight.

Some of the first few pops of color will be put on display in just a matter of days. That is if they aren’t already. The cooler and higher elevated locations of the Cascades will be some of the first few spots to get color.

Forecast data from ‘ Explore Fall ‘ shows fall colors slipping in to Oregon and Washington mountain trees during the first week of September.

The summer season has been hard on some Willamette Valley trees. Signs of heat stress and lack of water have left some trees sun scorched. Others are fading to brown and red for some variety of trees. The seasonal change that deciduous trees typically see during the change in season will get underway in the next few weeks.

The hot and sunny end to the month of August and start to September will not likely delay the timeline of the leaf change. The amount of daylight is one of the key factors to starting that colorful change. Sunrise and sunset times continue to shorten the amount of light we see here in the Pacific Northwest. That darkening trend will push Portland to nearly a loss of 90 minutes of daylight in the month of September.

Cooler temperatures typically come in September with a nearly 10-degree drop from the first to the last day of the month. That makes the new average high 72-degrees for September 30.

It’s the combination of cooler days, sunny skies, and the shorter days that all help push Oregon and Washington’s fall colors to come to life.

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