Posted in New Hampshire September 12, 2018 by

You’ll Be Happy To Hear That New Hampshire’s Fall Foliage Is Expected To Be Bright And Bold This Year

While it might still officially be summer in New Hampshire, the unmistakable early signs of autumn are here. A crisp morning breeze and a few yellow leaves on the ground mean we’re headed straight for one of the most beautiful times of year in the Granite State. The end of warm weather might be a bummer, but the blow is lessened when you remember that fall foliage is just around the corner. Here are the fall foliage predictions in New Hampshire, including what you can expect this year!

We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. While we’re continuing to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, we don’t expect or encourage you to go check them out immediately. We believe that supporting local attractions is important now more than ever and we hope our articles inspire your future adventures! And on that note, please nominate your favorite local business that could use some love right now: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nominate/
It might be hard to believe, but it's New Hampshire's winter that has paved the way to an incredible autumn leaf display that's soon to be here.
btonevibes / Flickr
The frigid temps that New England saw in January are unforgettable. The snow that came early in the season was replaced by warmer temperatures (in the 70s at times!) across most of New England, including New Hampshire.
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But, the wonderful warm weather soon turned to cold days that stuck around for longer than we would have liked. Things didn't warm up until April, which meant the trees didn't show their green leaves until later in May than usual.
donlonphoto / Flickr
In addition, we saw significantly less rain during spring this year. Fortunately, the snow that fell throughout the winter provided enough water for the trees, allowing the lack of rain to be a GOOD thing for New Hampshire's trees.
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The dryness means that damaging fungus never had a chance to grow, which is something we always need to look out for if we want a vibrant, leafy fall.

We may not have seen a ton of rain over the summer, but the wetter days of late summer and early fall means the trees are happily watered and fed.
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Predictions are saying that Fall should see lots of sunshine with well-timed rain and overnight temperatures in the cool range. As long as that remains true, leaves should be vibrant and full, putting on a show we'll all love.
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El Nino will also be in effect this year, keeping the polar jet stream north. This means that temperatures will stay warmer than average.
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And that means an exceptionally bright foliage fall!
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This also means that fall foliage could be at peak later than we normally expect.
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The strength and vibrancy of fall leaves will be most impacted by how cloudy the skies are, and how cool the nighttime temps are. A lot of rain in New Hampshire can take away from the bright colors, but this isn't expected to be a problem.
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Based on all of this information, experts are anticipating a fall foliage display that's strong, bright and healthy across the Granite State.
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Color should pop in late September through October. Just be sure to get out there and enjoy them!

Where are you planning on seeing the New Hampshire fall foliage? Don’t forget to share your photos with the New Hampshire Nature Lovers Facebook group so we can keep track of how things are unfolding across the state.

While you’re exploring the best fall foliage in the state, don’t forget to fuel up at these donut and cider mills. They’ve got some of the best treats in the state to put you in the mood for cozy autumn days to come.