2020's Fall Colors Could Be The Best Virginia Has Seen In Years
By Beth|Published October 10, 2020
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Beth
Author
A lifelong Virginia resident, Beth loves exploring different parts of the world and currently resides in Charlottesville. She holds a degree in English Literature and one of her short stories has been featured in the Shenandoah Review. Other interests include hiking, songwriting, and spending time in the mountains.
If you’ve lived in Virginia long enough, you’ve surely experienced the magic of fall firsthand. You likely also understand that no two autumn seasons are the same. Some yield spectacular fall colors while others aren’t quite as memorable in terms of foliage. If you’re wondering about the 2020 fall foliage report for Virginia, we’ve got some great news to share. According to MSN, the foliage this year could be the best Virginia has seen in years.
As you may recall, the fall of 2019 was a bit lackluster in the foliage department. This was largely due to a hot summer that seemed to extend well into the fall season.
Luckily for us Virginians, there's no such thing as a bad year for fall foliage. Even in relatively "dull" color seasons, we're blessed with an abundance of seasonal beauty.
Even so, we're thrilled by the news that the fall of 2020 might just be "one of the best seasons in years," according to Dr. John Seiler who is the Professor of Tree Biology at Virginia Tech.
The brightness of each year's fall foliage depends on a number of factors: temperatures at night, the amount of daylight, weather extremes, and overall tree health.
According to the experts, ideal conditions for brilliant foliage include cool but not freezing temperatures (which favor anthocyanin formation), plenty of sunshine paired with cooler evenings, and finally, a lack of strong winds and heavy rains (which can cause leaves to brown or fall prematurely).
This year's peak dates are October 10th - 24th in the Shenandoah Valley and Blue Ridge portion, October 24th - 31st in the middle part of the state, and October 31st - November 7th in eastern and coastal Virginia.
What are your thoughts on this 2020 fall foliage report for Virginia? Are you looking forward to exploring all that the season has to offer? For a little inspiration, be sure to check out this list of the most beautiful fall destinations in Virginia.
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