This autumn has had ideal conditions for development of spectacular color: warm, sunny days, cold nights and very little wind, rain or snow. That’s resulted in lush color throughout California.
Comparing 2014 to 2013, the color is peaking a half week to a week earlier. If drought has had any influence on color development, it may be the reason why areas that were holding as patchy went to full peak within a day or two. However, without wind, the color has held nicely.
Even areas that peaked are dropping leaves slowly, leaving developing color to provide a beautiful show, longer than we’ve seen peaks last, in past years, as seen in this photo posted by Jonathan Jahr of a trail near Spooner Lake (Nevada side of Lake Tahoe) on California Fall Color’s page, today.
Best bets for the coming week include: June Lake, Lower Bishop Creek Canyon, Hope Valley, Lake Tahoe and the San Bernardino and San Jacinto Mountains. Wind is, of course, always a concern and strong breezes on Sunday afternoon may spell trouble for peaked trees. Look for Plumas county to approach peak in the next two weeks.
