NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — We are well into the fall season and colorful foliage is becoming more noticeable. Many areas across Middle Tennessee are seeing some yellows and oranges showing up in leaves, while parts of the Cumberland Plateau are already showing reds and purples.
The latest foliage map from Evan Fisher at ExploreFall shows a good portion of the Cumberland Plateau at peak color. Other areas of the Plateau and the Upper Cumberland haven’t quite reached peak yet, but vibrant colors are becoming more common. Across the rest of Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky, fall color is developing, though it isn’t as vibrant just yet.
Next week, the week of November 9, will likely bring peak color to the rest of the Plateau and the Upper Cumberland, with much of the rest of Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky nearing peak colors. We can expect to see more vibrant oranges, reds, and purples during this time. Along the higher elevations of the Plateau, some leaves may already start turning brown.
Why does the time that peak fall foliage occurs each year vary and why are the colors different? Well, there are several different factors that cause this variation. During the growing season, leaves appear green because they contain chlorophyll, which masks other pigments. As days shorten in the fall, chlorophyll breaks down, revealing yellow and orange colors. Sunny, mild days help leaves produce sugars through photosynthesis, while cool nights slow the movement of some sugars out of the leaves. Those sugars help red and purple pigments develop. This fall, Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky have had plenty of warm afternoons and cool nights, conditions that have helped the foliage become more colorful…