I wonder if it will be like 2007 when we peaked in mid November. Though that year the heat remained well into October
“With seasons like this, you usually have an extended period of color,” said Frank Lombardo, a meteorologist and chief executive officer of the WeatherWorks forecasting company, based in Warren County. “The trees that are susceptible to drier weather will start turning leaves early. The trees that are healthy and aren’t stressed will start to turn their leaves later, so you’ll get an extended season.”
A big factor contributing to colorful fall foliage seasons in New Jersey is adequate rain, which helps keep the root system of trees strong, Lombardo noted.
“We had a very wet spring," he said. "So a lot of trees are healthy, with a lot of leaves hanging on.”
Despite some trees that are shedding their leaves a little early, Tom Sheppard also is confident New Jersey will have a colorful autumn.
“I think we’ll have a nice fall foliage season,” said Sheppard, chief park naturalist for the Hunterdon County Division of Parks and Recreation. “Will we have the best one? I wouldn’t say that, but I think we’ll have a solid one. I think all the rain we had early in the year has been enough to keep the trees in good condition.”