One business in Smithfield that never saw flooding in 15 years of operation experienced two feet of water in their warehouse. While it might be 70 and sunny in Asheville, it could be 20 degrees cooler at the higher elevations. These colors should feature more prominently than any others in NC State communications. I would expect that we would probably have very vibrant colors this fall season.”. As you can imagine, just a lot of wind and heavy rain can actually literally knock the leaves off the trees, which would have an impact on what we would see and how long the fall color season might be. Plus, tour historic farms at Biltmore and in the Great Smoky Mountains. Don't rely 100% on your GPS to navigate our mountain roads. Road closures and conditions on the Blue Ridge Parkway, along with weather reports, are available by calling the Parkway information line at (828) 298-0398. If you are exploring the outdoors in our national parks and forests, research first. Explore our favorite cool small towns in the NC mountains near Asheville, each with its own personality, local shops and restaurants, friendly residents and relaxed atmosphere. click here to download the CBS 17 News app, Stimulus checks: Hours left to cut deal with $1,200 direct payments before Election Day, TSA: Over 1 million airline passengers screened Sunday for first time since March, Retirees rally in Belarus against authoritarian president, Black officers break from unions over Trump endorsements, Snowy winter in NC? All Rights Reserved. RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) - The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released its winter weather outlook on Thursday - which won't make snow lovers in North Carolina happy. Mitchell. See the many details below! Best Photo SpotsFor ideas, go to our Blue Ridge Mountains Fall Photo Tour. Find our top Scenic Drives and top Mountaintop Hikes with panoramic views. See buffalo and alpacas, sample local cheeses, watch bees make honey, visit wineries, pick apples and more. Plan a picnic at some amazing locations where you can enjoy sweet views. Take a scenic train ride on excursions along the Nantahala and Tuckasegee Rivers, over the mountains, across valleys and through tunnels. Follow this link for the rest of the NCAA hex color codes for all of your favorite NCAA team color codes. Take in the grandeur of our country's largest home, the "Downton Abbey" of America. “If we have major storm systems that move through here in the fall, it can actually cause our trees to lose their leaves early. Frequently, you will not have cell or Internet service in remote areas including many hiking trails and waterfalls. If you’re looking for less crowded spaces to enjoy the foliage during COVID-19, Bardon recommends heading to smaller parks that aren’t always on the map. Color changes then move across the state to the coast. Explore the many rooms inside the house, walk through breathtaking landscapes and gardens, taste vintages at the winery and enjoy fine dining. Colors are produced by the broadleaf trees, the hardwood trees that we have across the state. Fall EventsThere are many street festivals and autumn-themed events in September and October in Asheville and nearby small towns. Enjoy camping, glamping, tiny home rentals, trout stream, hiking, and more! The warm light of the early morning or late afternoon can create especially dramatic images. Top Bed and Breakfasts in and around Asheville, Vacation Packages & Specials, Asheville & Biltmore, Fall Color Photos: Blue Ridge Mountains Top 25, Blue Ridge Parkway Fall Color: Top 20 NC Places, Top 20 NC Mountain Summit Hikes with Views, Free Email Updates, Apps & Printed Guides, Make your lodging reservations ASAP at our top. Our Blue Ridge and the Great Smoky Mountains have one of the longest autumn color seasons in the country, thanks to our many 6,000-foot peaks (highest in the eastern USA), deep valleys, and varying microclimates. Rainy days often provide the most striking and rich photos! Drive the Parkway north or south from Asheville and quickly climb the Blue Ridge Mountain ridge. Find hikes for all skill levels in the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains. Don't miss their impressive bonsai garden exhibit and many special events during the year. October 7 - 12. Get outside in the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains with our 70 favorite things to do. This 30-acre eco-retreat surrounded by national forest is right off the Blue Ridge Parkway with some of the best fall color views in the Blue Ridge Mountains! So whether you travel near or far, grab your pumpkin spice and get ready to enjoy some “un-be-leaf-able” views! Four entrances to the Park are within 60 miles of downtown Asheville. Bring a sweater or jacket. Blue Ridge Parkway Top StopsOne of America's top scenic drives is the best place to see the autumn show. See our top places and things to do in the Great Smoky Mountains on the North Carolina side near Asheville. Copyright 2020 Nexstar Inc. All rights reserved. If you encounter fog and low clouds on the Blue Ridge Parkway, don't despair. Experience a 5-week span of color that slowly descends from the tallest ridges down to the lowest valleys. Packages & Specials for Asheville & Mountains. They also have onsite yoga classes and bodywork treatments. Rainy day? Peak color in western North Carolina. The colors are most vibrant in the maples, sourwoods, and birches. For visits to Biltmore Estate, buy your tickets in advance to save money and to get your preferred house tour time. You can reach elevations of 5,000+ ft. Our mile-by-mile guide of the Parkway covers the 193-mile section near Asheville. Watch live newscasts, get breaking news and sign up for push alerts – download now. Take a picnic and tailgate. Receive a monthly digest of top seasonal events, attractions, activities and travel giveaways in Asheville and NC Mountains. According To The 2020 Fall Foliage Prediction Map, Here’s When You Can Expect The Colors To Peak In Your Part Of North Carolina Fall just may be our most favorite season in the Tar Heel State. The Neuse River in Smithfield rose to 29.09 feet, breaking the record crest caused by Hurricane Fran in 1996 by 2 feet. Note: We tweak this forecast depending on weather patterns and our observations. Gas stations are sparse in remote areas and there are none along the Parkway. Sunshine and cooler temperatures are ideal conditions for sugar production in the leaves. © 1998 - 2020 Nexstar Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Enjoy plenty of fishing spots, whether novice or experienced. Vibrant colors fill the landscape of the North Carolina mountains as we now reach the peak time to see the fall colors. Dr. Bardon says that for the central part of North Carolina, we can look to really see the colors from the end of October into November. The most prominent pigment is chlorophyll, which produces the green color we see in plants. “This year we’ve had decent weather. Peak color for the eastern piedmont and coastal plain regions. Some can be enjoyed with a short walk or even roadside. Find more on our Travel Updates for Western NC. See many things to do with our detailed insider's guide! With the Blue Ridge Parkway's great variation of elevation, it is the easiest place to find color during most of October. NC State’s core palette consists of three colors: Wolfpack Red, Wolfpack White and Wolfpack Black. Others require a scenic hike. Take your camera. 60-minute tour begins at 76 Biltmore Avenue (you can grab a beer there to take along). Here are some extra free resources to help you plan your vacation trip to Asheville and the North Carolina mountains - including many printed travel guides you can order from many towns in the Blue... Find Updates and Reopenings in Asheville & Western North Carolina. The flip side of that is if we continue to see the warm sunny days and cool nights and continue to get some rain periodically through the fall, I would expect us to see a fairly decent length for our fall color season.”. Chimney Rock is starting to see color around the ridges and fall wildflowers are beginning to bloom along the trails. That's a good way to get lost. Autumn Leaf Viewing TipsHere are some of our tips for a fabulous fall getaway: Thanksgiving & ChristmasLooking ahead, see our Thanksgiving Things to Do and Top Holiday Outings. Asheville and the North Carolina mountains are home to hundreds of world-class artists. RALEIGH (WTVD) -- Now that it's finally feeling like fall around here everyone wants to know when they might start seeing the fall colors. So many things to do along one of the most scenic drives in the United States. Also, chilly sunny weather speeds up the color change and warm weather and rain prolong it. Also, areas at the exact same elevation often change at different times, depending on sun exposure, soil conditions and more.