The Southern Appalachian region offers scores of opportunities to bask in fall foliage.    

As you consider fall outings – ever in search of a place to savor the annual parade of red, yellow and orange – East Tennessee State University will make the process easier.   



For the third straight year, ETSU will offer a weekly prediction about fall color.    

“We live in an absolutely stunning area, with beautiful and diverse trees and vegetation,” said Travis Watson, the university’s campus arborist. “Our hope is that this weekly update will help the public enjoy the breath-taking beauty of our region even more.”   



The prediction is published each Thursday until the season ends.    

The report includes when fall color will appear and then peak in both the highest and lowest elevations in the region.    



Watson, who holds a master’s degree in biology from ETSU, will work with Dr. Andrew Joyner, Tennessee’s official climatologist and an associate professor in the Department of Geosciences.    

They will share thoughts on a range of topics, including how recent weather - temperature, precipitation and storms – will affect fall hues.     

“From drought conditions to unusually hot temperatures, weather plays a major role, sometimes increasing the vibrancy of autumn color or playing spoiler for those who enjoy leaf peeping,” Joyner said.  

Watson and Joyner mine a range of information, including historical data, long-range weather forecasts and more.   

With autumn coming soon, here are some other items to keep in mind:  

  • Foliage comes sooner in the higher elevations.    
  • For much of the lower elevations in places like Johnson City, Kingsport, Bristol, Greeneville and more, color usually increases around the first of October.  
  • Trees that are stressed will drop their leaves quite early, something that is already visible in parts of the region.   

The first prediction will publish Thursday, Sept. 19. Look for it on ETSU’s social media platforms, as well as ETSU News.  

East Tennessee State University was founded in 1911 with a singular mission: to improve the quality of life for people in the region and beyond. Through its world-class health sciences programs and interprofessional approach to health care education, ETSU is a highly respected leader in rural health research and practices. The university also boasts nationally ranked programs in the arts, technology, computing, and media studies. ETSU serves approximately 14,000 students each year and is ranked among the top 10 percent of colleges in the nation for students graduating with the least amount of debt.

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