Quebec’s fall colours delayed this year, but interactive map tracks peak spots

In this photo taken using a drone, a person walks along a pathway amongst the fall colours, Saturday Oct. 8, 2022 in Gatineau, Quebec. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld)

A new interactive map is giving leaf-peepers a real-time look at where to find Quebec’s brightest colours. But this year, those hoping to admire the autumn foliage have had to wait a little longer than usual.

Ian Major, a research scientist at the Laurentian Forestry Centre in Quebec City, said the delayed colour change in trees is the result of several factors, including drought.

“We had a very dry July and August, in Southern Ontario through southern Quebec, and then there were also cooler temperatures late in August and early September. So there are some trees that actually started to go through their color changes a little bit early,” Major said in a recent interview.

“But since the beginning of September, I think we’ve had more stable, warmer temperatures. Looking at the temperatures this morning, it’s a little odd — we’ve had around 20 degrees for several days now, in September.”

The research scientist explained that, in autumn, trees “harden” — a process in which they prepare for winter by slowing growth and recovering nutrients from their leaves. That process is also impacted by changes in day length and temperature.

“But then there are also a lot of trees that are still green, so that comes down a little bit to differences between species, differences between individuals and their microclimates,” said Major.

“So, some of them might have had ... drought stress earlier in the summer, and then they started to change earlier. And others are quite happy, and the temperatures haven’t dropped quite far enough for them to start to trigger these changes.”

Major noted that warmer temperatures linked to climate change could cause similar delays in fall colours in the future, but also prolong the period.