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It’s officially autumn, a whimsical time for those who yearn for cozy sweaters and crisp nights – and captivating color. 

Experts at East Tennessee State University expect hues to begin appearing in the mountains of East Tennessee, Western North Carolina and Southwest Virginia now and into early October. 

The Southern Appalachians are filled with bright red sugar maples, dazzling yellow eastern redbuds and exceptional golden bronze American beech. Peak color in the highest elevations is likely the third week in October.   

“With temperatures dropping back to the seasonal range we should remain on track for colors to begin changing in the highest elevations this week,” said Travis Watson, the university’s campus arborist. 

Because of a brutally hot summer, as well as limited rain, officials at ETSU predict that the region’s highest elevations – home to vast botanical diversity – will likely have the most vibrant foliage.  

While fall officially began Saturday, the soaring temperatures felt like anything but autumn.  

“The record heat over the weekend wasn’t incredibly helpful,” said Dr. Andrew Joyner, Tennessee’s official climatologist and an associate professor in the Department of Geosciences.  “But since it’s short-lived and we appear to be in a cooling and wetter pattern this week, I don’t see too many impacts.” 

Joyner and his team are monitoring the effects of tropical weather that may sweep through the region.  

Earlier this year, experts predicted that the Atlantic hurricane season would be especially active. Why does it matter? Such weather can generate storms in Southern Appalachia that help bring down leaves sooner than normal. 

ETSU provides a weekly fall color prediction every Thursday until the season ends.