Michigan’s fall colors are slow to show so far this fall. Here’s the latest on what Michiganders are seeing across our top fall color state.
September was quite warm compared to normal with many areas coming in at least three degrees warmer than normal for a monthly average temperature.
There also have been only a couple spots in the Upper Peninsula that have reached near freezing temperatures a few mornings. Cold spots in Lower Michigan have been only as cold as 35 degrees.
The warm weather has slowed the development of fall colors across the state leaving most of Lower Michigan is still mostly green. There are a few small pockets of scattered fall color forming, but still not worth chasing down this week.
I’ve found the West Branch area to be one of the earliest fall color spots in Lower Michigan. Here’s an image from West Branch showing some meaningful color is just starting.
Fall color is starting to become widespread near West Branch, Mich. on Sept. 29, 2024.(photo provided by LeAnn O'Neil)LeAnn O'Neil
I’d have to call Lower Michigan mostly green with a few spots of fall color. Northern Lower Michigan is still two weeks away from having a lot of fall color. Southern Lower Michigan is probably three weeks away from ample fall color.
Very little fall color along the Big Manistee River in Manistee County, Mich. on Sept. 26, 2024 (Justine Lofton | MLive)Justine Lofton
The U.P. is around one week behind the typical fall color stage at this point. You will see some color through the inland part of all of the U.P. The inland areas of the western U.P. and the central U.P. have about 25 percent color change now.
Fall color is starting to emerge over the Porcupine Mountains in the western Upper Peninsula on Sept. 25, 2024.Michelle Lutke
Lake of the Clouds in the Porcupine Mountains of the western U.P. still looks fairly green on Sept. 29, 2024. Photo provided by Michelle LutkeMichelle Lutke
Fall color on Sept. 29, 2024, in central Luce County in the Upper Peninsula. Photo provided by Tracy Zbiciak PattonTracy Zbiciak Patton
Once the fall color starts to develop it seems to come on pretty quickly. We could have the western U.P. peaking in a week. You should target Oct. 8-12 for a trip to that area.
We don’t have any cold weather coming in the next two weeks that will produce frost in northern Lower Michigan. Once frost occurs, the fall colors seem to develop quickly. This means peak fall color will be around mid-October in northern Lower Michigan, and one week later at the warm spots along the Great Lakes shorelines. Southern Lower Michigan won’t have peak fall color until the last two weeks of October.