First peaks of fall color beginning in East Region; when will leaves change in West Virginia?

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — The U.S. Forest Service has released the first week of its 2025 Fall Color Report, and color is creeping closer to West Virginia.

According to the report, forests in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Vermont and Ohio reported seeing the first signs of fall color on the trees, including the Wayne National Forest, which is near the West Virginia border in the Ohio Valley. However, that fall color is only in very small pockets, and those forests are still almost all green.

West Virginia Division of Forestry director Jeremey Jones said that West Virginia has the perfect conditions for vibrant fall color so far—a warm, wet summer with a snap of cooler temperatures. Whether the fall-like temperatures from late August stick around through September will determine if the color is great or exceptional, according to Jones.

According to the West Virginia Department of Tourism, West Virginia will see the start of fall color at the end of September. Because it was a wetter summer, that color should be near on time, especially compared to the fall color in 2024, which was delayed because of severe drought.

The first areas that will see fall color in West Virginia are the Allegheny Highlands, including Preston County, down to Greenbrier County.