Fall in the Pacific Northwest ushers in 50 shades ( or more) of rich colors. It's not always grey gray around here, despite our gloomy reputation, and the blockbuster 50 Shades Trilogy set largely in Seattle, with a few side trips to the Portland/Vancouver area.
The Autumnal Equinox begins throughout the Pacific region today, September 22, at 7:49 A.M. The word equinox comes from the Latin words for "equal night." The Fall and Spring equinoxes are the only two when the sun crosses the equator creating a 12-hour day.
The local forecast for the first day of Fall promises sunshine after a bit of early morning cloud cover. See, it's not always gray around here. The temperatures are getting cooler at night now too, and that means the tree leaves will stop producing chlorophyll which is the green pigment of photosynthesis.
While trees respond to cooler temperatures, they also react to shorter hours of daylight. The result can be seen in their leaves - natural pigments called carotenoids appear once the green chlorophyll begins to wane. Golds, oranges, reds and yellow hues often create a pleasing show.
This Fall season may arrive each year, but soil moisture and weather ensure that no two autumns are alike. For example, an early season rain and wind storm can all but ruin the foliage viewing in the Pacific Northwest. Dry Indian summers help ensure more dramatic panoramas.
The peak season for Autumn's 50 shades ( or more) of rich colors in the Pacific Northwest falls between mid-September and mid-October. Naturally, unseasonable weather can impact that foliage viewing window by several weeks - earlier or later.
Here are some top spots for Fall Foliage in and around the Clark County, WA area. Each area also has hiking trails allowing visitors to absorb the colorful sights and inhale the scents of the season. Today is the Autumnal Equinox and soon we'll celebrate the 50 shades( or more) of rich colors in the Pacific Northwest - it's not always grey gray around here!
East Fork of the Lewis River
Here''s a quick video tour of the Hood River Fruit Loop last Fall.
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