Fall colors have peaked in northern Wisconsin, but southern spots to peak as late as November

Wisconsin continues to be a divided state — when it comes to fall color.

Many northern and central Wisconsin locales are past peak leaf color, though there are still plenty of destinations that are at peak this week. But southern Wisconsin spots have a lot of catching up to do. Some don’t expect to see peak color until the first week of November.

Those conclusions can be drawn from from looking at Travel Wisconsin’s Fall Color Report on Oct. 24. It is compiled from more than 100 observers and includes reports from every county in Wisconsin.

“Wisconsin’s leaves are changing but much later than usual,” the state climatology office stated in a recent Instagram post. “Our recent weather has played a big role in the timing of fall colors this year.”

In the northern third of Wisconsin, these locales report they are past peak fall color: Barron County, Cable Area, Hayward, Ladysmith, Menomonie, Rhinelander Area, Three Lakes Area, Tomahawk.

These spots are at peak: Algoma, Ashland, Bayfield, Door County, Eau Claire, La Pointe Madeline Island, Manitowish Waters, Minocqua.

Green Bay reports 75% color.

In central Wisconsin, these locations report peak color: Amherst Area, Marshfield, Stevens Point Area, Waupaca, Wisconsin Rapids Area.

Manitowoc reports 95% color; Fond du Lac and Wausau, 90%; Appleton, 80%; Plymouth, 70%; Oshkosh, 65%; Green Lake, 35%.

In the highly varied southern tier of the state, Vernon County is past peak color, with Blue Mounds, Portage and Racine County at peak.

Wisconsin Dells reports 85% color; Baraboo Area, 80%; Lake Geneva, 75%; Devil’s Lake State Park and Washington County, 70%; Ozaukee County, 65%.

Oak Creek reports 60% color; Milwaukee, 55%; Madison, 50%; Jefferson, 45%; Waukesha, 40%; Oconomowoc, 35%; West Allis, 30%.

These observers estimate their peak fall color will not occur until the first week of November: Dodge County, Madison, Oconomowoc, Waunakee, Waukesha.

Warm nights during fall can mute or delay colors, as leaves stay on the trees longer, assistant state climatologist Edward Hopkins wrote in an article posted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

“Wisconsin has experienced warming fall nights over the last 74 years, potentially causing shifts in the onset of fall colors,” Hopkins and co-author Amanda Latham wrote.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Fall colors have peaked in northern Wisconsin, but southern spots to peak as late as November

Reporting by Jim Higgins, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

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