How are the autumn leaves shaping up in New Jersey as we head into the weekend? The latest fall foliage map released by the New Jersey Forest Service shows the colors are looking brilliant in the state’s northern counties but have only changed slightly in many central and southern counties.
The forest service has been posting updated maps each week through the fall, showing the status of the leaf colors seen on trees in state parks and forests across New Jersey.
The latest map, issued Friday afternoon, Oct. 22, shows the autumn colors have reached their peak in most areas of Sussex County and are now past their peak in the northern corner of Sussex.
It also shows the foliage is near its peak in Bergen, Essex, Morris and Passaic counties, as well as in northern Warren County. In addition, the map indicates the colors have been changing just slightly in a big chunk of the state, from Mercer, southern Middlesex and Monmouth down to Cumberland and Cape May.
Some weather forecasters had predicted that the 2021 fall foliage season would be one of the best in years across much of New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania because of abundant rain in the summer and in early September, followed by a stretch of drier weather with sunshine and cool, crisp nights.
Data from the National Weather Service shows October’s temperatures have been averaging between 5 and 7 degrees warmer than normal. That may have delayed the foliage color changes in some areas, but recent cooler temperatures overnight could put the leaves back on track.
Weekend weather forecast
If you’re planning to head outside this weekend to do some leaf peeping, here’s how the weather forecast is shaping up, according to the National Weather Service.
Saturday should be partly sunny, with afternoon highs reaching about 60 degrees in North Jersey, 62 to 63 degrees in Central Jersey and 65 to 67 degrees in South Jersey. There’s a slight chance of rain showers after 2 p.m., mainly in the northern region of the state.
Sunday is expected to be mostly sunny and dry across the entire state, with afternoon highs in the low 60s in northern and central New Jersey and the mid- to upper 60s in South Jersey.
Current weather radar
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Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com.
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