We're closing in on the official first day of fall, but parts of northern New England are already reporting moderate fall colors. Check our updated map HERE.

AccuWeather is forecasting vibrant fall foliage in parts of the Northeast but especially the Midwest. Pastelok says the vibrant red, orange and yellow leaves will most likely be found this autumn in a zone that stretches from the interior Northeast and Great Lakes through the Mississippi River Valley.

Sean Pavone/iStock/Getty Images Is it just us, or does it seem like we’re all desperately trying to jump into fall this year? Maybe it was the record heat this summer. Maybe we’re all just jonesing for pumpkin spice,

While southern parts of Rhode Island and Connecticut will have peak fall colors during the week of Oct. 14, the rest of southern New England will have passed its peak by this point. When foliage passes its peak, leaves start to turn darker and duller, and often fall to the ground.

What makes New England’s foliage so spectacular? It’s all about the science of leaves. During the growing season, leaves are filled with chlorophyll, which gives them their green color. As the days shorten and temperatures drop in the fall,

As seen in these maps, the vibrant fall hues which the New England region is so beloved for can be expected to peak during the week of Oct. 7. The region's colorful foliage displays bring in about 10 million leafpeepers each year. Here is a map from AccuWeather showing the best month for autumn colors across the country: