Each fall, Michigan puts on a spectacular show of red, orange and gold.
From scenic lakes Up North to the suburban streets of metro Detroit, fall always offers an incredible backdrop for cider mill adventures, cozy gatherings and scenic drives.
If you’re planning a trip, perhaps in Northern Michigan or the Upper Peninsula, the week-by-week autumn foliage predictor map from SmokyMountains.com can be very helpful, but be warned — the science isn’t 100%.
Here’s a week-by-week look at the fall color forecast:
Week of Sept. 15: Minimal, patchy fall colors across Michigan
There won’t be too much to see yet in Michigan, with minimal foliage cover in metro Detroit. In northern Michigan and across the U.P., there’s patchy color starting to shine through.
Week of Sept. 22: Patchy fall colors in metro Detroit
By this week, expect to see patchy fall colors in metro Detroit and up into the Thumb area. Head north and you’ll find partial pops of Michigan’s autumn hues.
Week of Sept. 29: Partial fall colors in metro Detroit, near-peak Up North
The colors will be turning in metro Detroit and the lower portion of the state during this week, with colors reaching near-peak conditions Up North and most of the Upper Peninsula.
Week of Oct. 6: Peak fall colors Up North, U.P.
Peak fall color has arrived in northern Michigan, with most areas at their most vibrant. In Metro Detroit, foliage is nearing its best, offering plenty of scenic views.
Week of Oct. 13: Peak fall colors in metro Detroit, lower Michigan
Metro Detroit and the Thumb are showing off their peak fall colors now, with brilliant reds, oranges, and yellows at their most vivid. Up North, most of northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula have moved past peak, though a few pockets in the U.P. still shine in near-perfect autumn color.
Week of Oct. 20: Past peak foliage across Michigan
Across Michigan, peak fall color has mostly come and gone. Only a small portion of the U.P. remains vibrant, holding on to late-season foliage.
Fall colors interactive map
(Tap on the dates below, moving the slider to view predicted changes. Can’t see it? View the larger map on the website.)
When does fall start in 2025?
The fall equinox — the end of summer and start of fall 2025 — takes place at 2:19 p.m. Sept. 22, 2025, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
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Drought can affect fall colors
Weather and temperature also influence fall foliage; some conditions can dull fall colors. Warm, sunny days accompanied by cool nights make for prime conditions. Extreme drought, excessive rainfall and warm periods, however, can mute the range of fall colors. The latest forecast from the Climate Prediction Center predicts a warmer-than-average fall for nearly the entire United States.
Which states can expect the most vibrant fall colors?
Said AccuWeather’s long-range weather expert, Paul Pastelok, in a news release: “You can blame heavy rainfall and flooding this spring and summer for dull colors in the Appalachians and the Smoky Mountains. Insect and fungus damage can occur across southwest Pennsylvania, western Maryland and Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, extending to Mississippi and Alabama from heavy rain. This can lead to duller colors and early droppage of leaves.”
“Heat, drought conditions and even wildfire smoke will limit the vibrancy of colors in much of the interior West,” Pastelok said. “Stressed trees in the lower elevations could drop leaves a week or two earlier than average this autumn.”
How leaves change color in the fall
As the amount of daylight gets shorter in the fall, chlorophyll production in leaves slows down and eventually stops. Chlorophyll gives leaves a green color, so when these pigments are not visible, carotenoids, which produce yellow orange and brown colors, show through, according to the Virginia Department of Forestry.
Bright light and excess plant sugars are abundant during the season, and they help produce anthocyanins, which add red to plants.
The USA Today Network contributed to this article.
Contact Elissa Robinson: erobinson@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: When will leaves change in Northern Michigan? Week-by-week predictions for 2025 fall colors
Reporting by Elissa Robinson, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
