Recent dry conditions won’t affect fall foliage

While the latest U.S. drought monitor continues to show expanding dry conditions across our region, it’s only temporary.

That’s welcome news for the overabundance of tourists who flock to the Poconos each year to take in the spectacular fall foliage the area is renowned for this time of season.

According to the drought monitor, the abnormally dry conditions combined with the persistent heat across this region, will add additional stress to vegetation, making leaves less vibrant than they would be in a more seasonable fall transition.

However, the situation isn’t overly cause for concern, according to Paul Walker, a senior meteorologist with AccuWeather.

“It’s pretty normal here in the fall to have dry periods,” Walker said. “Unless you get tropical periods in the Northeast, it tends to be a drier time of year.”

Walker expounded on that thought process.

“We had a pretty moist summer to start with, and we’re starting to see some pretty dry patches,” he said.

Walker said drier conditions this time of year are the norm.

“Usually with the winter months you have your storms, and in the summer convections, so it tends to be a drier time of year,” he said. “You don’t have cold fronts coming through right yet, or summer time convection, which is often the driver for the rain and precipitation in the summer.”

Fortunately, Walker suggested the expanding dry conditions don’t figure to stick around.

“It looks to be a short-term type of thing; if it would be long-term, it would be concerning,” he said. “We were moist most of the calendar year; the last three months we haven’t had a problem with the drought, it’s just the last three weeks to a month that we noticed drier conditions.”

That projection should be music to the ears for marketing organizations such as the Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau, which serves the counties of Carbon, Monroe, Pike and Wayne.

PMVB President & CEO Chris Barrett noted that the organization offers visitors an updated fall foliage forecast on its website, PoconoMountains.com.

“The forecast helps everyone know when peak foliage is expected to arrive and where,” Barrett said. “Right now, October looks like it will be an opportune time for people to enjoy the vibrant colors of the fall season across our four-county region.”

A message on the bureau website states that the Pocono Mountains region encompasses three distinct fall foliage color zones in which start and peak times vary between the three areas.

Depending on conditions, leaves begin to turn in mid-September and reach their peak in early to mid-October, according to the website.

Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor Executive Director Elissa Garofalo said the drier conditions shouldn’t dampen plans for any fall foliage activities.

“It has been a warm fall with leaves just now changing in the northern most section of the heritage corridor,” Garofalo said. “Cyclists and other visitors have a choice; they can see some color along the Black Diamond and Lehigh Gorge sections of the D & L Trail, or ride and hike in warmer temps south of the Mansion House Bridge in Jim Thorpe.”

Garofalo added that rental bikes and shuttles are also available.

“And cold ice cream and beer will taste good either way,” she said.