If You Live In New England, Keep An Eye Out For This Rare Foliage Phenomenon

The weather has a wonderful way of surprising us sometimes. Unique events happen rarely, but when they do, it can be magical. Have you ever experienced a sunshower, a thundersnow, or maybe a double rainbow? Every now and then, we get to witness an example of the endless variety of weather phenomena on this little blue marble, and it can be truly beautiful. If you live in New England, you might be able to experience one such phenomenon: "snowliage." Snowliage is the perfectly timed event when the fall foliage is at its peak, and it snows, dusting the autumn-colored leaves with a cap of white.

There is an abundance of great places to see fall foliage in New England. After all, the area is known for its beautiful country roads filled with autumn leaves colored red, yellow, and copper. Vermont has its beautiful maple trees, Massachusetts has the gorgeous American elm, and Connecticut has its magnificent oaks, just to name a few. But what is the likelihood that you will get to see them with snowliage this year? Well, while there are some factors that might prevent it, whether you use persimmon seeds to predict winter weather or the Weather Channel, it's really anyone's guess. So, if you're planning a trip to see the fall foliage in New England this season and are hoping to see a dusting of snow, you might want to do it soon.

One of the biggest factors in whether or not you will get to see an early snow when fall leaves are at their peak in New England is how strong the La Niña effect is. This weather phenomenon is known to affect a lot of different things. Currently, the La Niña is very weak, which allows the jet stream to dip into the middle of the country. This means only the most northerly parts of the country will experience precipitation with colder temperatures (snow). And currently, New England has been experiencing a warmer-than-average fall. These two factors mean the most likely location for a snowliage experience will be in the mountains of northern New England.

With all of these weather conditions in mind, the best time to see snowliage this year will be the last few weeks of October. This is when fall foliage will be at its peak in the majority of New England, and there is a slight chance of precipitation with cooler temperatures. Your best chance to experience it would be to visit the Adirondacks. Either way, visiting the northeastern U.S. during this time of year is a wonderful experience. And it surely isn't a waste of time to drive rural roads with no real destination in mind. So, venture out and spend a weekend enjoying the fall colors and maybe visit a quaint New England town for cider and pumpkin picking.