Overview

• As of mid-September, most areas show little change, with early color confined to northern and high-elevation spots, according to multiple regional reports.
• Illinois’ official map shows minimal change now and projects peak from the second to final weeks of October across northern Illinois, including the Chicago area.
• Parts of Chicago’s urban canopy may peak later than the rest of the state, forecasters note, reflecting urban heat and species differences.
• The Smoky Mountains map projects late-October peak for the Greater Cincinnati and Ohio Valley region, with northern Ohio and Indiana peaking closer to mid-October.
• Maine’s weekly state reports have begun, with northern zones peaking in late September to early October and coastal/southern areas in mid to late October, though drought could temper vibrancy.