Foliage shifts south: Northern Maine past peak as color heads for Massachusetts

New England's leaf season is sliding south this weekend, with the far north largely done and southern New England coming into its own, according to state reports and local news coverage.

Maine: south at peak, north fading

Maine's Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry said in its Oct. 14 update, likely its last of the season, that the state's northern and western zones are past peak with high leaf drop. Zones 1, 2, 3 South and 4 South, covering much of the southern and coastal parts of the state, were listed at peak.

| Maine zone | Status (Oct. 14) | Leaf drop | |---|---|---| | 1, 2 | Peak | Moderate | | 3 South | Peak | High | | 4 South | Peak | Moderate | | 3 North, 4 North, 5, 6, 7 | Past peak | Moderate to high |

Department spokesperson Gale Ross said a dusting of snow could still bring "snowliage" to northern Maine.

New Hampshire and Massachusetts

NBC Boston reported on Oct. 15 that colors were in full display at Mount Monadnock in southern New Hampshire, and that its forecasters expect Massachusetts to hit its high point next week. Boston, the station said, should look like Monadnock does now in a few weeks.

The Boston Globe's foliage tracker earlier in the week placed peak color in New Hampshire's Great North Woods and much of Vermont, and said the Berkshires and northern Worcester County were starting to turn.

The state Department of Conservation and Recreation projected a mid-October statewide peak, with western Massachusetts first. Its interactive foliage map, linked from the DCR fall foliage page, lets visitors check conditions at specific state parks.