Autumn officially began at 10:29 p.m. Monday and forecasters are predicting a good fall foliage viewing season in the area.

COLORS:AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tom Kines said enough rain fell this summer to allow "colors to pop" when the calendar turns to October."When the summer is too dry, it puts a stress on the leaves," Kines said. "That usually means they won't be as colorful, but I don't think that was the case this year."HOW MUCH RAIN?Jim Thorpe received 5.49 inches of rain in June, 6.91 inches in July and 3.50 in August. June and July were above average rainfall amounts, according to AccuWeather.Weather patterns over the next few weeks will also be conducive for good colors when they emerge in October, Kines said.WHAT'S AHEAD:"We're not seeing any real big storms on the horizon for the early part of the month," he added. "Another thing you don't want is a real early frost and it doesn't appear as if we'll have that."In fact, AccuWeather's forecast predicts high temperatures of 78 and 79 on Saturday and Sunday for Lehighton. The extended forecast shows a few days in early October could also reach the mid-70s."If it gets too cold, too early, it can knock a lot of the leaves off the trees," Kines said. "That also holds true for any really windy days, which is really hard to predict when you get into October."how leaves change:According to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, leaf pigments, length of night and weather are the three main factors affecting autumn color.Chlorophyll, the most abundant pigment in a leaf, is broken down and replaced during the growing season, giving off a green color.Other pigments include carotenoid, which reflects orange, yellow and brown colors in corn, carrots, buttercups and bananas; and anthocyanin, which give red, blue and purple colors to cranberries, apples, grapes, berries, cherries and plums.When nights grow longer, chlorophyll production eventually stops, unmasking the colors of carotenoid and anthocyanin pigments.A succession of warm, sunny days and cool, crisp but not freezing nights seems to bring about the most spectacular color displays, according to DCNR.Soil moisture changes annually, giving the same location different levels of fall color each year.BEST TIME TO SEE FOLIAGE:Currently, less than 10 percent of leaves in the region have achieved their full color, according to a map provided by the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau. The map, found on the Bureau's website at

www.800poconos.com, is updated every Thursday through the end of October.Peak viewing time in the Pocono region, Kines said, will be around Oct. 10-12. Lower elevations, however, will see vibrant colors through the end of the month.Peak fall foliage viewing across Pennsylvania will last from Oct. 5-21, according to the Farmer's Almanac.Pennsylvania has a longer and more varied fall foliage season than any other state in the nation, or anywhere in the world, according to the DCNR.WHERE TO SEE IT:Pennsylvania's tourism website lists the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Byway in Jim Thorpe as one of the top three places in the state to "experience the beauty of fall."The town holds its Fall Foliage Festival the first three weekends in October.Jarrad Hedes