ONTARIO: Fall Colour Outlook for Wednesday, September 20, 2023
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NOTE: YOU CAN CLICK ON THE MAP TO OPEN A ZOOMABLE IMAGE
Following a warm start to autumn in Southern Ontario, we've transitioned to more typical fall weather. This shift brings cooler nights, with some areas even waking up to frost on Wednesday morning.
These dropping temperatures play a crucial role in the transformation of fall foliage, and in the past week, we've witnessed an acceleration in this process. Numerous regions across Southern Ontario now report that 20% to even 30% of leaves have commenced their vibrant colour transition.
Presently, Northern parts of Central and Eastern Ontario, like Algonquin Park, are showcasing more vibrant colours, with approximately 30% of leaves already transformed. The remaining parts of Central and Eastern Ontario hover around 20%, albeit with some regional variation. Meanwhile, areas around the Golden Horseshoe and into Southwestern Ontario are just beginning their journey toward a colourful landscape.
As we approach the first official weekend of fall, marked by the autumnal equinox on Saturday, the colour change is expected to continue its progression. The peak of this transformation may align with the Thanksgiving Weekend for Central and Eastern Ontario based on current data, promising a picturesque autumn landscape in the weeks ahead.
Please note: This forecast relies on extrapolating data collected from various parks throughout Southern Ontario. Since some parks do not provide daily updates, we may draw data from adjacent regions to formulate our estimated leaf change predictions. This also means that the data displayed on the map may not exactly match what is occurring in your backyard.
Fall Colour Report by park
| Park Name | Colour Change (%) | Tree Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Algonquin | 30% | 100% |
| Arrowhead | 20% | 90% |
| Balsam Lake | 20% | 90% |
| Bon Echo | 10% | 90% |
| Bonnechere | 20% | 90% |
| Bronte Creek | 10% | 90% |
| Charleston Lake | 10% | 100% |
| Darlington | 10% | 100% |
| Fitzroy | 20% | 100% |
| Frontenac | 20% | 90% |
| Grundy Lake | 20% | 100% |
| Inverhuron | 30% | 90% |
| Killbear | 10% | 100% |
| Lake St. Peter | 20% | 90% |
| Long Point | 10% | 90% |
| MacGregor Point | 20% | 90% |
| Mark S. Burnham | 10% | 90% |
| McRae Point | 10% | 90% |
| Mikisew | 30% | 90% |
| Mono Cliffs | 10% | 100% |
| Murphys Point | 10% | 100% |
| Oxtongue River-Ragged Falls | 20% | 90% |
| Petroglyphs | 10% | 100% |
| Point Farms | 10% | 100% |
| Presqu'ile | 10% | 100% |
| Restoule | 10% | 100% |
| Rideau River | 10% | 90% |
| Rondeau | 10% | 100% |
| Sandbanks | 10% | 100% |
| Sauble Falls | 20% | 90% |
| Sharbot Lake | 10% | 90% |
| Sibbald Point | 20% | 90% |
| Silent Lake | 20% | 100% |
| Silver Lake | 10% | 100% |
| Sturgeon Bay | 20% | 90% |
| Turkey Point | 10% | 90% |
| Voyageur | 20% | 90% |
| Wheatley | 10% | 100% |
The ideal time to witness the full glory of fall colours in Southern Ontario is when the colour change percentage reaches its peak, often around 70-90%, and the tree coverage is above 50%.
The peak of fall colours in Southern Ontario typically lasts for about one to two weeks, although the exact duration can vary from year to year depending on weather conditions.
