Smoky Mountains predicts that during the week of Sept. 29, Erie will see minimal fall foliage change, while the rest of Pennsylvania will reach near peak and patchy changes.

Smoky Mountains predicts that during the week of Sept. 29, Erie will see minimal fall foliage change, while the rest of Pennsylvania will reach near peak and patchy changes.

Provided by smokymountains.com

USA TODAY Network, Reuters

The fall foliage change is happening.

According to the Farmer’s Almanac, “leaf-peeping season begins in the northern forest and higher elevation in late September before spreading across the state through October.”

The 2026 U.S. fall foliage prediction map on the Smoky Mountains website shows Erie’s leaf peeping starting and finishing later than the rest of Pennsylvania.

Ryan Reed, natural resource program specialist for the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, told the Erie Times-News in a story on weather’s impact on state foliage that Erie’s later foliage change is due to Lake Erie acting as a “battery” holding and dispersing heat which impacts the air temperature.

Why do leaves change color in the fall?

Leaves changing colors begin with photosynthesis.

According to smokymountains.com, leaves produce vivid hues of green from spring into summer and early fall through the creation of chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is the key component in the leaf’s ability to turn sunlight into glucose which then feeds the trees and makes the leaves appear green to the eye.

The site states: “As fall days begin to get shorter, the production of chlorophyll slows and gives way to the true color of the leaf.”

Fall foliage week of Sept. 29

By Sept. 29, smokymountains.com shows minimal change in the Erie area. The central area of Pennsylvania will have more patchy changes while eastern Pennsylvania nears its foliage peak. DCNR posts its weekly state fall foliage reports every Thursday during peak foliage season.

Fall foliage week of Oct. 6

By Oct. 6, the Erie area will reach patchy foliage status. Meanwhile, the rest of Pennsylvania will progress to partial, near peak and peak foliage going from the southern part of the state to northeast.

Fall foliage week of Oct. 13

By the week of Oct. 13, smokymountains.com predicts Erie to be in partial foliage while the rest of the state progresses to near peak to peak to past peak.

Fall foliage week of Oct. 20

Going into the week of Oct. 20, Erie will be near its fall foliage peak. Meanwhile the rest of the state progresses to peak and past peak.

Erie reaches fall foliage peak on Oct. 27

On the week of Oct. 27, Erie is projected to be the only area in Pennsylvania still in its fall foliage peak, according to smokymountains.com’s prediction map. The rest of Pennsylvania will be past peak.

Pennsylvania past fall foliage peak

When the calendar turns to November, Pennsylvania will past its fall foliage peak.

Contact Nicholas Sorensen at Nsorensen@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: When Erie will see peak fall foliage this year

Reporting by Nicholas Sorensen, Erie Times-News / Erie Times-News

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Smoky Mountains predicts the fall foliage in Erie to be patchy during the week of Oct. 6. The rest of Pennsylvania will progress to partial foliage to near peak to reaching a foliage peak. Smoky Mountains predicts the fall foliage in Erie to be patchy during the week of Oct. 6. The rest of Pennsylvania will progress to partial foliage to near peak to reaching a foliage peak. Provided by smokymountains.com USA TODAY Network, Reuters During the week of Oct. 13, there will be partial fall foliage change in the Erie area. Other areas around Pennsylvania will progress to near peak to peak to past peak. During the week of Oct. 13, there will be partial fall foliage change in the Erie area. Other areas around Pennsylvania will progress to near peak to peak to past peak. Provided by smokymountains.com USA TODAY Network, Reuters During the week of Oct. 20, the Erie area will be near the fall foliage peak. The rest of Pennsylvania will progress to its peak to past peak. During the week of Oct. 20, the Erie area will be near the fall foliage peak. The rest of Pennsylvania will progress to its peak to past peak. Provided by smokymountains.com USA TODAY Network, Reuters By the week of Oct. 27, Erie will be the only area in Pennsylvania in the fall foliage peak. The rest of Pennsylvania will be past the fall foliage peak. By the week of Oct. 27, Erie will be the only area in Pennsylvania in the fall foliage peak. The rest of Pennsylvania will be past the fall foliage peak. Provided by smokymountains.com USA TODAY Network, Reuters Once we reach November, Erie will join the rest of Pennsylvania reaching past the fall foliage peak. Once we reach November, Erie will join the rest of Pennsylvania reaching past the fall foliage peak. Provided by smokymountains.com USA TODAY Network, Reuters

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This story was originally published September 23, 2026 at 4:59 AM.