Fall colors peaking up north

It’s happening.

Minnesota’s fall colors are peaking in many locations across northern Minnesota this week. Wednesday’s fall color update from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (see map above) now shows 75 to 100 percent colors in much of northern Minnesota.

Vibrant colors are now reported from northwestern Minnesota through Bemidji, Walker, and the Leech Lake area, into parts of the Iron Range.

A wide area of 50 to 75 percent color now covers much of central Minnesota from Wheaton in the west, through Brainerd to Duluth and much of the North Shore.

In the Twin Cities and southern Minnesota, about 25 to 50 percent color is reported.

Typical peak colors ahead

We’re approaching the time of typical fall colors peak across central and southern Minnesota. The typical fall color peak in the Twin Cities and much of southern Minnesota is in mid-October.

Our weekend cold snap will accelerate fall color changes. Lows will drop into the 30s across most of Minnesota this weekend.

Temperatures will likely bottom out in the low 40s in the downtowns of the Twin Cities this weekend. Temperatures in the 30s are likely in the suburbs.

So next week could approach peak fall colors around the Twin Cities.