Whats the difference between the Cumberland Plateau and the Smokies?

[JoshB]

I love how the Plateau looks as well as the mountains. I can't wait till this fall when I visit. Can anyone tell me about the average time the leaves starting changing colors down there?

[TN Tin Man]

I heard the leaf peepers start around late September -early - October. I think it depends on how much rain and the cool weather........

[JMT]

Originally Posted by Tinman313

I heard the leaf peepers start around late September -early - October. I think it depends on how much rain and the cool weather........

And it also depends on the elevation. The leaves start changing much earlier up in the mountains than down in the valleys.

Here in Knoxville, as I recall, the last couple of years the fall colors really came out in mid-late October.

[Grizzlybear34]

My family took a trip last year the last weekend in October, along the Tennessee/Georgia border near Chattanooga. I'll bet peak colors didn't come for two weeks later. Our colors were nice, but you could tell it wasn't near peak.

[LauraC]

Originally Posted by Grizzlybear34

My family took a trip last year the last weekend in October, along the Tennessee/Georgia border near Chattanooga. I'll bet peak colors didn't come for two weeks later. Our colors were nice, but you could tell it wasn't near peak.

I agree. Fall foliage last year was 2 - 3 weeks later than usual. The week before Thanksgiving week was peak in my town last year. And, I know it was really late because the town had to change the leaf pick up schedule because the leaves weren't off the trees at the normal time.

I was here in October 2006 and the leaves were changing when I left on October 14. I was told then that peak was the week of Halloween.

[JoshB]

Thanks again everyone. We had late peak season up here in Wisconsin last year as well.

[JoshB]

I realize this thread is older but I thought I would post to it instead of creating a new one.

Are there any real differences weather wise in winter? I realize the Plateau elevations are substantially lower than that of the Mountains. Average snowfall per season about the same?

[creeksitter]

Well the snowfall is higher in the high peaks of the smokies but most of that is in national park or forest land. So the question is : do you want to look at snow from a distance or play in it in your yard?

How much snow does it take to make you happy? Because if it is more than a few inches in a year you might consider KY, VA or WVA.