Fall foliage in Ohio

Ohio changes within a narrow span in the second half of October, and there is not much of a directional progression to describe. The Hocking Hills, Ash Cave, Old Man’s Cave and the Cuyahoga Valley peak within about a week of one another, with the northeast slightly ahead and the Ohio River counties a few days behind. Sugar and red maple bring the reds; oaks, hickories and beech carry the rest of the state in bronze and gold into the start of November.

Color somewhere in the state: October and November
Trees: red maple, oak, hickory and beech
Region: Great Lakes & Midwest

Those are the months when color is present somewhere in Ohio, from its highest ground to its lowest. Any one location changes over a much shorter period than that.

Why the timing shifts from year to year

Shortening days start the process, so most places in Ohio change at close to their usual time each year. Within the state, elevation and latitude account for most of the difference: higher and more northern ground generally changes first, and lower, sheltered ground last. Weather has more effect on how strong the color is than on when it appears. Cool nights and sunny days favor the reds, a dry summer mutes them, and a hard freeze or a windstorm can strip a slope in a day. What determines the timing goes through this in detail.

Nearby states

Fall color does not follow state lines. Ohio borders:

Timing for a specific place

This page describes a whole state, which is about as precise as a season can be described in words. Conditions at one overlook on one weekend are a narrower question, and that is the one Fallcast answers: an expected period of color for a specific location, with a confidence attached, updated through the season as the trees change. It is coming to iPhone this fall.

Questions, or somewhere in Ohio you would like covered? Write to fallcastapp@gmail.com.