Why Fall Foliage is Falling Behind in Pittsburgh

Did you know that Pennsylvania has a longer and more varied fall foliage season than anywhere else? 🍂The DCNR publishes a weekly map on Thursdays, showing which regions are approaching and in the midst of peak color.

I talked to Ryan Reed, the natural resource program specialist for the state Bureau of Forestry. He creates the map based on dozens of reports from foresters across the state. Typically, the season could be pretty predictable based on historical documentation, he said, “but in the past 30 years or so, fall foliage has been delayed as much as 10 days to two weeks."

Reed attributes the lag to climate change, which also affects tree species like the “poster child for fall color,” the Sugar Maple, which is losing dominance at the northern tier of the state; and our state tree, the Eastern Hemlock, which is susceptible to insects now living longer and creating more damage.

Something positive: There’s an entire state committee working on a Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Plan. Fall leaves may always be changing, but let’s get out there and enjoy the color while we can.