Times Observer Photo by Josh Cotton Changing leaves are pictured near the Gen. Joseph Warren statue in downtown.

Fall foliage season is approaching.

The most recent fall foliage forecast by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources indicates that the county is among the majority of the state that is “starting to change.”

Counties in the “starting to change” category projects, per DCNR, that peak color is two to three weeks away.

Clearfield, Potter, Tioga and several counties in the northeast are in the “approaching best color” while Somerset and Wayne are in the “best color” phase.

“Warren County will probably start to peak in the second week of October into the third week,” Cecile Stelter, district forester with the DCNR, said. “The areas to our east, McKean County, Bradford area will peak earlier, more towards the end of the first week (or) beginning of the second week of October.”

She called this a “wonderful season” in imploring people to explore ‘Penn’s Woods.”

“Pennsylvania has over 130 species of native trees, so it is guaranteed that some of those species will have an outstanding year while others may be a bit more muted,” she said. “I think that is what makes Pennsylvania’s fall foliage so beautiful – every year promises to be different and unique, based on what species or mix of species may stand out for that particular year.”

Nature has its own sequencing for the fall display that it gives us.

“Normally we see the first color in sumac, aspens, ash and maybe some of the red maples,” Stelter explained. “Middle season are more of the sugar maples, hickories, dogwoods, sassafras, etc.

“Ending the season, and usually the last to change are the oaks, beech and remaining hickory, walnut, etc.”

Last year was a mild winter and those kinds of weather conditions, as well as the summer and early fall conditions, further impacting the “timing, vibrancy and even length” of the colors.

“The conditions that make up the best fall foliage display, include warm sunny days and cooler but not freezing nights,” Stelter explained. “Occasional rain that is not heavy and does not have strong associated winds. These conditions combined with shorter days bring on the best color changes.”

She detailed how early snow falls or heavy rain can accelerate leaf fall.

“Hard frosts, especially multiple consecutive events can cause the color changes to occur more quickly and shorten the season,” she said. “Dramatic, sudden weather events tend to shorten the season and reduce the vibrancy of the colors.

“Last year’s winter will not have much impact on this fall’s foliage change except for the fact that we have had a long growing season – it may have started a bit earlier than normal. Drought conditions can also cause stress on trees that can make them change color earlier and/or prematurely drop their leaves even before they change color.”

Stelter highlighted the fall season as evidence of a “diverse and vibrant forest ecosystem.

“But just like any other living system, it takes care and management to maintain a healthy balance,” she said. “The Bureau of Forestry commits millions of dollars – like in our Spongy Moth Spray Program and Hemlock Wooly Adelgid treatments – towards efforts to help maintain a healthy forest ecosystem.

“But more than 70% of Pennsylvania’s forests are privately owned. So it really is all our responsibility to ensure that our forests remain healthy so that we can enjoy fall foliage seasons for decades to come.”