Long Island awaits peak fall foliage colors; here's where to get a nearby preview

Fall is in full swing in New York State — but Long Island trees will be among the last to show it, forecasters said.

On last week’s state Fall Foliage Report map, Long Island appears mostly yellow, meaning our leaves are "just changing," compared with other regions like the Adirondacks, where 75% of the area is already at full peak.

Localized peak colors will soon pop up in parts of the Capital-Saratoga, Catskills, Central New York, Finger Lakes and Chautauqua-Allegheny regions, the state website said.

Peak foliage on Long Island usually occurs at the end of October through early November.

Why do Long Islanders have to wait? The answer is our environment, Newsday meteorologist Geoff Bansen said.

"We are surrounded by a warmer body of water and don't get the colder temperatures until later than the rest of the state," Bansen said.

Chilly temperatures and shorter days with less sunlight trigger leaves to stop making chlorophyll.

"Once this happens, the green color starts to fade and the reds, oranges, and yellows become visible," the National Weather Service website service said.

Right now, the best place to view fall foliage on Long Island appears to be Belmont Lake State Park in West Babylon, reporting 60% foliage change and near-peak color on trees surrounding the lake.

At Mill Pond Park in Wantagh, volunteers reported a 50% foliage change with a fall mix of color on trees surrounding the pond offering near-peak conditions, the state map said. In Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, volunteers reported a 40% foliage change.

Other areas of Long Island reported slight foliage change, including 20% at Hempstead Lake State Park in West Hempstead and 10% at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow.

Reports are obtained from more than 100 volunteer field observers weekly and reflect expected color conditions for the coming weekend.