Fall foliage: As the season changes, so do the leaves in Poconos

As the fall foliage begins, throughout the next few weeks Pocono residents will start to notice the changing colors of leaves as we settle into the fall season.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry, the Pike/Monroe County service forester (Delaware State Forest District) reported that forests in Monroe and surrounding counties such as Carbon, Northampton, Lackawanna and Luzerne have begun to change, while Wayne and Pike counties are showing more progress.

The Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau fall foliage report for Sept. 26 to Oct. 2 says maples, birch, higher elevation oaks, and many shrub species are displaying shades of red and yellow in the central color zone. They say the best color can be found on exposed areas, mountain peaks, lake perimeters or field edges.

The Visitors Bureau report says in the northernmost color zone, which encompasses northern Wayne and Pike counties, full color is at 41% with 88% of the leaves on the trees. The projected date for peak color is Oct. 14.

It says in the central color zone, which encompasses southern Wayne, Pike and northern Monroe counties, full color is currently at 30% with 90% of the leaves on the trees, and the projected date for peak color is Oct. 20.

It also says in the southern color zone, which encompasses southern Monroe County and Carbon County, full color is at 30% with 90% of the leaves on the trees. The projected date for peak color is Oct. 24.

Emmanuella Pierre is the trending and breaking news reporter at the Pocono Record. Reach her at epierre@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Pocono Record: Fall foliage: As the season changes, so do the leaves in Poconos