Labor Day marks the start of fall—here’s when the leaves will change where you live

Labor Day marks the meteorological start of fall, while astronomical fall begins on September 22nd. Many anticipate cooler weather and vibrant fall foliage. Leaf color change timing varies by location, with interactive maps providing predictions. Two online maps, from SmokeyMountains.com and ExploreFall.com, offer predictions using color-coded systems to indicate foliage progress. These maps, however, are not perfectly accurate, as temperature and rainfall influence leaf changes. The change progresses from north to south, with northern states seeing changes earlier than southern states. Northern states may peak in early October, while southern states may not peak until late November. Most of the US will experience peak fall colors in late October. Factors like temperature, rainfall and location significantly affect peak foliage times.