Color the Valley vibrant for fall

The peak season for autumn leaf-peeking arrives soon.

By DAVID SKOLNICK and JON MOFFETT

YOUNGSTOWN — A really cold July and only four days of at least 90 degrees between June and September meant the Mahoning Valley had a miserable summer, right?

Perhaps, but the Valley’s temperature for those four months was actually slightly above normal, according to National Weather Service statistics.

Despite the late-summer warmth, naturalists say Valley residents will soon witness the brilliant changing of the hues on foliage — just about on time.

The area’s average temperature for June to September is 66.43 degrees. For those four months this year, the average temperature was 66.63 degrees.

So how did that happen?

Despite the near-record-low July average temperature and a lower than average temperature for June, the Valley had higher-than-average temperatures in August and September.

The average temperature in June was 65.4 degrees, 0.5 of a degree below normal for that month in the Valley.

This past July, the average temperature was 67.4 degrees, 2.5 degrees below normal for that month. Besides the year 2000, with an average temperature of 67 degrees, this year was the lowest temperature for a July for the area in its recorded weather history, which dates to 1897.

The average temperature increased to 70.2 degrees in August. That is 1.8 degrees higher than average for that month.

And last month the average temperature was 63.5 degrees, 2 degrees higher than a typical September in the Valley.

Lower temperatures for the fall are already here — Wednesday’s average temperature was only 49 degrees, 8 degrees below normal — but there is time for locals to enjoy the beauty of autumn.

Many leaves are green, but soon vibrant shades of yellow, orange and red will provide fireworks-like atmosphere.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources expects the peak of the color-changing season to begin in the next couple of weeks. Some areas, like Quail Hollow State Park in Akron, have begun changing.

Peak colors — as much as 85 percent color changing — at the park in Akron are expected by the middle part of the month.

Also, there are plenty of destinations for fall-foliage observation in the area, such as Mill Creek MetroParks.

“It’s free, it’s fun and you can hike the trails, look at the scenery and enjoy the fall foliage,” said Linda Kostka, the parks’ marketing and development director. “It’s a good way to prepare for winter, because it’s coming.”

Kostka offered several locations within the park system that should have brilliant foliage for patrons to enjoy. She said Lake Glacier, the Silver Bridge, Lanterman’s Mill, Yellow Creek Park and the MetroParks Farm — as well as several outlying areas — are options for leaf lovers.

Other areas include the four state parks in the Valley: Mosquito Lake [Cortland], Lake Milton [Lake Milton], Guilford Lake [Lisbon] and Beaver Creek [East Liverpool]. They also offer patrons free places to picnic, hike and enjoy nature.

Various activities are planned at local parks in order to take full advantage of the color change. The MetroParks will have a “Pumpkin Walk” on 5:30 to 8 p.m. Oct. 18 at Fellows Riverside Gardens.

“The leaves will be changing by then, so come out early and look at the leaves and then do the Pumpkin Walk,” she said.

But bring a sweater. Temperatures are expected to drop in the coming weeks.

More information on foliage locations can be found by calling 1-800-BUCKEYE or visiting www.discoverohio.com and clicking on “autumn adventures.” For Pennsylvania, similar information can be obtained by calling 1-888-PA-PARKS or by visiting dcnr.state.pa.us.

skolnick@vindy.com

jmoffett@vindy.com