LANSING, Mich. (WSYM) — Usually this time of the year, the colors up north are moving along fast enough to miss if you're too late. This year, they are changing very slowly and are now well behind schedule.
The Upper Peninsula was turning quickly as of last week. Now on Sept. 29, we are only seeing a slight amount of more color and mainly in the higher elevations. Nothing is peak as of yet, but some additional areas are now showing moderate color.
WSYM Chief Meteorologist Brad Sugden says he still wouldn't make plans to hit the road just yet. Unless you go all the way into the Huron Mountains or the Keweenaw, you might disappointed. A lot of the lower elevations and lakeshore areas up north are still very green. These areas are moderate color and not only small in scale, but remote as well.
Here is a shot from Sugden's mom Sandy as of Thursday from Lake of the Clouds in the Porkies.
As you can see, the colors are just starting to turn. They will most likely make great progress by next weekend.
We can also look at the latest satellite image from NASA of the Upper Peninsula.
You'll notice some orange and brown hues to the trees west of Marquette and in the highest elevation of the Keweenaw Peninsula, but that's it.
Here's the Lower Peninsula:
As you can see, the farm fields are turning brown to the south and in the Thumb, but that's it. Trees are nearly all still green.
You have to go really far to see anything substantial. It's certainly behind schedule since Oct. 1 is in two days.
Now, with the numerous frost and freeze conditions the state has seen, it is likely this map advances quite a bit by next week. We are consistently looking at cold nights coming our way, which is wonderful news for those vibrant oranges and reds.
