You'll Be Happy To Hear That Illinois' Fall Foliage Is Expected To Be Bright And Bold This Year
By Elizabeth Crozier|Published September 13, 2018
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Elizabeth Crozier
Author
An Illinois transplant who grew up and went to school in Indiana for 22 years, Elizabeth holds a BFA in creative writing and has enjoyed traveling across the country and parts of Europe. She has visited half of the states, as well as parts of Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean, and regularly travels home to the Hoosier State to see friends and family. With more than five years of writing experience, Elizabeth’s articles have been featured on several websites, and her poetry and short stories have been published in multiple literary journals.
As you know from our 2018/19 Illinois winter predictions, the upcoming seasons are going to be slightly warmer than usual this year. Days won’t be so chilly, and you’ll be able to enjoy the changing leaves more often. For all the best times and places to see the beauty of autumn, check out these fall foliage predictions from our friends at Smoky Mountains.
The change happens fast, and as quick as it comes, it is just as quick to expire. Scroll on for the best times to view the foliage and learn why leaves even change at all.
Settling in a little later than last year, the changing leaves are predicted to be better than ever this year. Since temperatures will be a bit warmer, you'll have more opportunities to go out an enjoy the fall leaves.
According to researchers at Smoky Mountains, most of Illinois will begin to see some change in the leaves by the week of October 1, 2018. The entire state will definitely start to see the reds, yellows, and oranges the following week.
The absolute best time to find yourself out in nature this fall will be the weeks of October 21-29, 2018 for the north half the state, while the south region will have an opportune moment to see the best colors in the weeks of October 29 through November 5, 2018.
There are a plethora of things to do in Illinois during autumn, and these fall foliage predictions show that late October will be the ideal time to take a fall hike, go camping, or spend a day at the local orchard.
Leaves change colors because trees stop taking in chlorophyll around this time of year. Trees must hibernate for winter, and therefore, they slowly close off their leaves from nutrients until each one falls away. This keeps the tree from freezing to death through harsh temperatures.