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Nice map. What I find interesting is that the area around NYC and coastal CT, whose winters resemble mine pretty much, have foliage peaks in mid to late October, yet Zagreb was at its foliage peak during the autumn of 2012 (pretty average temps) in mid-November, while having colder autumns on average.
In general, the coastal areas of the Tri-State area (NYC/Long Island/coastal CT/coastal NE NJ) have their foliage peak in late October/early November. 2012 was a warm year in the northern hemisphere (warm fall), so everyone was off a bit. So in that respect your region and the coastal areas Tri-State/Middle Atlantic are likely similar I guess.
Truth be told however, our colors along the East Coast are not so great. The best fall color is up in the New England states (Mass, NH, VT, Maine)..... northern Great Lakes (northern NY/OH, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin).... and the mountain West (Colorado, Utah, Montana, Oregon, Washington).
On the East Coast, once below about central Rhode Island, while nice, the colors are not so vivid. In some years they are not so great. At times salt damage when tropical cyclone rements pass through (like 2012, 2011), give leaves a burned/whitish look. Last year was awful after Hurricane Sandy hit NJ. Some places along the coast of NJ, CT, and Delaware had salt burned leaves that never even fell off –then were just stuck to the trees with this crisp look.
As far as the types of trees, it also makes a big difference from what I understand. Maples are the most common in the above mentioned best areas (far northern USA), and they have by far the best color. Oaks and more common as one moves south of about 42 latitude (roughly) in the USA, and their color is not nearly as vivid. Also, one you start to get below 40 latitude or so, there are more broadleaved evergreen species, pine forests on dry sandy soils, and the forests have a more sclerophyll character which washes out color even more.
Last edited by wavehunter007; 08-27-2013 at 03:34 PM..
The google street view car has some fall colors in and around Inuvik in the Northwest Territories about 68N, though it's dark and cloudy and not as impressive as nei's examples above. If you go a bit south (like just after the Dempster highway crosses the Mackenzie river heading south), it's sunny but there is less fall colors. The images were taken in August so its probably a bit early for peak color, not sure.
I think trees are a bit late this year... it still looks green in Brighton, with very rare signs of autumn, despite lower temps. but at the same time trees were late in april- may too! we all know how cold spring was
The cool nights have had a significant impact on speeding up the rate of change. Leaves have started to fall off and some trees are now pure orange or yellow.
I will have to get a few snapshots.
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