Want to know when to see fall color at its best in SC near you in 2023? Check this map
For some, fall kicks off with the start of football season. For others, it’s when the temperature starts to drop.
Then there are those who are all about the colors.
Tree leaves will soon turn hues of red, orange and gold across many parts of the U.S. South Carolina is a state known for its abundance of natural splendor and during the fall season that is no different.
But when will leaves start to change colors in the Palmetto State and when will fall foliage reach its peak this year?
SmokyMountains.com, a travel brand that mainly promotes the Smoky Mountain region, has for the last several years produced interactive U.S. maps that predict fall foliage for all parts of the country. To try the interactive map for South Carolina, check below.
Fall foliage map
Based on the map, while many parts of the U.S. will start seeing significant fall foliage this month, only parts of the Upstate will notice minor changes around Sept. 25. Even by Oct. 16, when most other states are in their peak fall foliage point, South Carolina’s colors still won’t be at their best.
So when will fall foliage reach its best in the state?
For South Carolina, between Oct. 30 and Nov. 6 will be the best time to see fall foliage across most of the state, the map shows.
To view and manipulate the full interactive map, click here.
Fall map methodology
According to SmokyMountains.com, the map is compiled using a refined data model that depends on several factors, such as historical temperature and precipitation, forecast temperature and precipitation, the type of tree known to be prominent in each geographic region, the historical trends in that area and user data. Last year, the site introduced the capability for end-users to provide real-time leaf reports that will impact both updates and future models.
This story was originally published September 13, 2023 at 6:00 AM.
