Many in our area are trying to think cool thoughts, given our recent heat. The folks at ExploreFall are doing the same.
Two months from Tuesday, fall will officially begin.
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This is when the sun aligns with Earth's equator, marking the equinox.
Here in North Carolina, that doesn't mean a whole lot in terms of temperatures. Our average high in Raleigh on September 22 is 81 degrees, and the average low is 61 degrees.
ExploreFall is an organization we've written about before. It aims to forecast fall foliage, while also pointing readers to resources for fall getaways (especially in the wake of storms like Helene last September).
Monday, it released the first outlook for the peak fall colors. You can see that interactive map here.
For the North Carolina mountains, it forecasts a peak between October 20 and October 28, which is dependent on elevation. Locally, the forecast for peak foliage is from November 4 to November 11.
This is pretty close to average for North Carolina.
The loss of daylight helps change the fall colors, but we also need ideal weather conditions. This includes mild, sunny days and cool, clear nights. It also includes the right amount of rain and wind.