Fall is coming! In North America, whether we like it or not, summer is drawing to an end. For some, that’s a sad annual occurrence, but those of us who crave cozy sweaters and the crunch of leaves under our feet are psyched when the foliage starts to turn. If you’re the sort who gets inspired by nature’s technicolor display of autumn leaves, you’ll want to check out this awesome tool that predicts the changing of leaves across the continental United States.
Using data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), SmokyMountains.com put together the fall foliage map we’ve all been waiting for. With an interactive slider at the bottom, users can select dates from the end of August through mid-November to see a representative of how the leaves will be changing in different parts of the country. This tool could be a great way to plan a weekend getaway for scenic autumn hikes, or simply to start thinking about when to take a Sunday drive through your favorite tree-lined neighborhood.
Related: Top 6 incredible artworks made from autumn leaves
Wes Melton, an engineer who worked on the map, says that designing a tool to predict fall foliage patterns was not an easy task. As he told Mashable, the map “uses an algorithm to predict when leaves will peak in each area of the country. While scientifically the concept of leaves changing colors is fairly simple, the ability to accurately predict when they will peak is very difficult due to the number of factors.”
The map is just a forecast, so you’ll have to get out and see what kind of oranges, reds, and yellows Mother Nature really has to offer in your area.
+ Fall Foliage Map
Via Mashable
Images via SmokyMountains.com and Shutterstock