Weekend Warmup Is Great Timing To Get Out and Enjoy Peak Fall Color

Patty Wetli | October 21, 2022 1:09 pm

(Patty Wetli / WTTW News)

Chicagoans get to experience two seasons simultaneously this weekend: summer-like temperatures hitting the upper 70s and peak fall color.

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After experiencing a couple of stressful years in 2020 and 2021, trees have rebounded in 2022 with a particularly vibrant foliage show. Thank the warm sunny days and cool-but-not-freezing nights for the eye-popping display.

According to the U.S. Forest Service, these conditions spur production of the pigments responsible for reds, purples and crimson, which are particularly notable in red maples, sugar maples, tupelo and some ash trees, among others. Heads up: Poison ivy also turns brilliant red.

For guides to what’s peaking locally and statewide, check out weekly fall color reports produced by Morton Arboretum and Enjoy Illinois.

Thinking about heading further afield on a fall color tour? Here’s a national map.

(smokymountains.com)