ONTARIO: Fall Colour Outlook for Thursday, September 28, 2023
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NOTE: YOU CAN CLICK ON THE MAP TO OPEN A ZOOMABLE IMAGE
As we near the end of September, the fall colours continue their colourful transformation across Southern Ontario. Right now, Central Ontario is the place to be if you're seeking the peak of autumn beauty.
This weekend, consider taking a scenic trip to Algonquin Park, Muskoka, and Bancroft. These areas report that 40-80% of leaves have started their colourful transition. And, the best part? Around 80-90% of those leaves are still hanging on, creating a vibrant landscape.
In addition to Central Ontario, the Ottawa Valley, Dundalk Highland, parts of Lake Huron, and the Western GTA are all experiencing significant progress. Parks in these spots are showing off around 30-40% colour change, although there's some variation, especially around Georgian Bay, where the colours seem to be taking their time.
Considering how Central Ontario has transitioned over the past week, it's safe to say that these mentioned regions will be at their peak fall beauty just in time for Thanksgiving next weekend!
Now, for the regions around Lake Ontario shoreline, Norfolk, and Niagara, there hasn't been much progress. They've been hanging at around 10% colour change for over a week. However, just like their neighbours, they're expected to speed up their transition over the next week. So, keep your eyes peeled for that fall magic!
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 [PEAK] | 80% | 90% |
| Arrowhead [PEAK] | 60% | 80% |
| Awenda | 10% | 100% |
| Balsam Lake | 30% | 80% |
| Bass Lake | 10% | 90% |
| Bon Echo | 30% | 80% |
| Bonnechere | 30% | 80% |
| Bronte Creek | 30% | 90% |
| Charleston Lake | 40% | 80% |
| Darlington | 10% | 100% |
| Driftwood | 20% | 80% |
| Earl Rowe | 10% | 90% |
| Fitzroy | 20% | 90% |
| Forks of the Credit | 30% | 90% |
| Frontenac | 30% | 80% |
| Grundy Lake | 30% | 90% |
| Inverhuron | 30% | 90% |
| Killbear | 10% | 100% |
| Lake St. Peter | 40% | 80% |
| Long Point | 10% | 90% |
| MacGregor Point | 20% | 90% |
| Mark S. Burnham | 20% | 90% |
| McRae Point | 10% | 90% |
| Mikisew [PEAK] | 60% | 80% |
| Mono Cliffs | 30% | 90% |
| Murphys Point | 30% | 90% |
| Oxtongue River-Ragged Falls [PEAK] | 60% | 80% |
| Petroglyphs | 20% | 90% |
| Point Farms | 30% | 90% |
| Port Burwell | 10% | 100% |
| Presqu'ile | 10% | 100% |
| Restoule | 40% | 90% |
| Rideau River | 10% | 90% |
| Rondeau | 20% | 90% |
| Sandbanks | 10% | 90% |
| Sauble Falls | 30% | 90% |
| Sharbot Lake | 30% | 70% |
| Sibbald Point | 30% | 80% |
| Silent Lake | 40% | 90% |
| Silver Lake | 30% | 70% |
| Sturgeon Bay | 30% | 80% |
| The Massasauga | 10% | 90% |
| Turkey Point | 10% | 90% |
| Voyageur | 30% | 90% |
| Wasaga Beach | 10% | 100% |
| Wheatley | 20% | 90% |
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.
