Fall in Chicago has officially arrived—but if you take a look around, you likely won’t notice yet.
That’s because the turn of fall foliage in the Windy City is still several weeks away—and this year the so-called Super El Niño could delay the peak of autumn colors.
Here’s a look at the data and when fall colors in Chicago will emerge.
An interactive look at Chicago’s fall foliage timeline
We can track Chicago’s autumn colors timeline thanks to the Fall Foliage Map from Explore Fall. The model allows users to see the change in color over time all across the country.
As of late September, Chicago is in the “Little to No color” range—but pretty soon, all that will change.
By October, the leaves will finally begin to change, reaching the moderate color range by October 17.
Chicago will reach high color right around Halloween, and the peak will follow shortly after within the first week of November.
How El Niño could effect fall colors in Chicago
This year’s peak fall color in Chicago will arrive about a week later than in 2025, and El Niño could be partly responsible.
Predictions from the National Weather Service show a likelihood of warmer-than-average temperatures during October, November, and December.
And according to a statement released by the Morton Arboretum, these elevated temps could delay the fall color turnover.
“The warming impact of El Niño in our region, particularly as we progress toward winter, may result in a compressed fall color season with leaves changing all at once in late fall,” said Morton Arboretum ecologist Christy Rollinson.
Rollinson noted that evidence shows a correlation between warmer autumn temperatures and delayed foliage development.
However, while a general delay in color is likely, a sudden onset of freezing temperatures could cause leaves to change rapidly, all at once.
Temperatures are only one factor, however. Daylight also plays a big role, with certain tree species responding differently to the balance of light and temperature.
Precipitation amounts also play a role. The recent torrential rains could cause some trees to change prematurely, making for a sort of “fall foliage of deception.”
“Although our autumn temperatures may become more like southern Illinois’ in future years, the timing of the temperature relative to day length won’t be equivalent, and we don’t know yet exactly what that will mean for the start of the season,” Rollinson said.
So for now, expect a later-than-normal arrival of fall colors in Chicago, and be sure to check out Explore Fall’s interactive map to stay updated on the timeline.
