One of the best parts of autumn has to be the vibrant leaves that color the trees and eventually litter the ground. For any leaf enthusiast or casual observers out there— this one’s for you!
Keep track of the peak foliage with the 2022 Fall Foliage Prediction Map. Thought of as the ultimate way to track the changing leaves, the foliage predictor has all the info you’re looking for.
The interactive guide, brought to you from Smokymountains.com, shows visitors when trees will hit their peak autumn foliage across the U.S.
How does the site work exactly?
To make as accurate as possible predictions, the site uses an algorithm of millions of data points sourced from governmental and non-governmental sites (like the Atmospheric Administration). By rounding up everything from yearly precipitation, to peak observation trends, and historical temperatures, the tracker analyzes the data before making its best prediction.
Sure, the process is not 100% accurate but it helps generate a bit of a sneak peek into the changing leaves, and definitely helps build excitement for the vibrant foliage autumn is known for.
When can we expect peak beauty?
For Chicago locals, expect trees to start showing some patchy coloring during October 3rd, with peak color changes appearing by October 24th. Alas, the leaves are fleeting, as Chicago’s trees will probably be past their peak by October 31st.
Happy fall, y’all!