Fall foliage season is upon us, and experts say the recent prolonged stretch of extremely dry weather is accelerating the arrival of peak foliage season.

“I can confidently say that the drought is resulting in an earlier season, this early color is a sign of stress,” explained Will Thomas, service forester for the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

In the Times News coverage area, splashes of yellow leaves could be spotted in forests as early as late August. And now, while leaves remain predominantly green, more colors are adding into the mix.

No matter where you are in Pennsylvania over the next month, chances are that you’ll soon see forests at their colorful best. With more than 130 species of trees, DCNR notes that Pennsylvania has a longer and more varied fall foliage season than any other state.

To highlight the beauty of the changing leaves, DCNR has launched its annual fall foliage forecast on Thursday. The link, www.pa.gov/fallfoliage, was posted a week earlier this year than usual due to the predicted early foliage season. And the Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau also posts a forecast — including webcams — which can be found at www.poconomountains.com.

Both predictions are updated on Thursdays through fall foliage season.

The bureau expects the southern Pocono Region — places like Jim Thorpe, Lehighton and Weatherly — to be at peak in mid- to late-October, with its northernmost region surrounding Hawley and Honesdale to be at its best in early October. The central region will peak between the two, the bureau predicts.

Compared to data from 2024, this year’s peaks are expected to happen about a week earlier in most parts of the region.

The dry conditions are the contributing factor, with the National Drought Mitigation Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture noting that most of the region is experiencing abnormally dry conditions. The agencies noted that Pennsylvania had the third driest August on record since 1895, with only 1.65 inches of precipitation — down 2.22 inches from normal.

It’s not likely that a soaking rain — or even the precipitation received in most of the region this week — can impact or delay foliage.

“At this point, the factors that contribute to this early season can’t be affected by rain,” Thomas explained. “The rain is still good for the trees, but the leaves will continue to change.”

Ryan Reed, a natural resource program specialist for DCNR, said a lack of rain and dryness accelerates fall foliage.

“It’s no accident that most early color can be seen along the drier forest edges and south/west facing slopes, where more sunlight (and more intense sunlight) reaches the ground,” he explained.

Continuous dry weather causes a tree to stop producing chlorophyll, which gives leaves their green color. That’s when the “fall colors” begin to emerge.

The dry periods coupled with other factors, he explained, hasten color changes.

“Earlier, later, longer, shorter, it really doesn’t matter. Fall foliage season is always awesome in Pennsylvania,” Reed noted.

The Pocono Mountains region attracts thousands of visitors each year, who arrive to see foliage and enjoy fall activities.

“Fall is among our shortest but busiest seasons for the fact that it is jam packed with vibrant colors, fun events and countless ways to enjoy autumn be it by train, boat or out on the trails and our charming downtowns,” explained James Hamill, spokesman for the Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau. “Experiences in the Poconos are priceless in fall.”

Hamill said the region’s state and national parks are natural wonders.

“We have eight state parks with so much to see and do,” he said.

While colorful leaves are expected just about everywhere, Hamill has some favorite places.

“Cool, small towns (including) Milford, Honesdale and Hawley are along Route 6,” he said. “Lake Wallenpaupack is a special place, too, along with the newly upgraded Knob Overlook in Mount Pocono, amazing towns along the D&L Trail and the Appalachian Trail, which goes right through the Poconos.”

Autumn is a major contributor to Pennsylvania’s tourism industry — not just in the Poconos, Last year, it generated $83.9 billion in economic impact, supported more than 514,000 jobs, and welcomed 201.6 million visitors, according to a new Pennsylvania Tourism Office report.

The industry grew by $7 billion from 2023 to 2024, creating 30,000 additional jobs across the Commonwealth.

“Pennsylvania’s fall foliage sets the standard for autumn in America,” said Anne Ryan, deputy secretary for tourism at Department of Community and Economic Development. “From hayrides and pumpkin patches to scenic train rides and campfires in the mountains, every year millions of visitors come to enjoy our landscapes and seasonal traditions — reminding us why Pennsylvania is one of the nation’s top fall destinations.”

The commonwealth is one of only three regions worldwide that support deciduous forests that display full autumn color. The others are in the British Isles/parts of northwestern Europe and northeastern China/northern Japan.