When Massachusetts will see peak fall foliage

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – As the days are getting shorter and the nights are getting colder the fall foliage is becoming more noticeable around western Massachusetts.

Fall colors will begin to appear in the middle of October as temperatures continue to get colder. With the weather getting colder, the leaves are beginning to change more and more.

New England is well known for its fall colors but not many know how the leaves turn from green to the beautiful reds, yellows, and oranges. With cooler temperatures and shorter daylight hours the tree’s chlorophyll breaks down.

That means the green color in the leaves disappears as the tree is unable to provide the leaves with the nutrients they need. When this happens, the leaves begin to die revealing the bright colors beneath.

Fall Foliage Tracker

The peak of the fall foliage for much of western Massachusetts is around the third week of October.

The trees will become mostly bare by early to mid-November.

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Chris Bouzakis is a meteorologist who has been a part of the 22News team since 2021. Follow Chris on X @ChrisBouzakis and view his bio to see more of his work.

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