Downpours, Wind Damage Already Lackluster Vermont Foliage. But Is A Second Act On The Way?

After the rain and wind this weekend, fall colors were muted
Sunday near Cambridge, Vermont. 

 Judging from my drive around parts of northern Vermont on Sunday, the downpours and wind we experienced this weekend definitely dulled a 2023 foliage season that was already not as impressive as most recent years.  

Don't get me wrong, tourists who ventured into Vermont this weekend weren't totally cheated. There were definitely pockets and incidents of total gorgeousness. But the foliage wasn't close to the insane brilliance we saw in 2022 and 2021. 

Along the western slopes of the Green Mountains, there were plenty of bare or nearly bare trees. I saw a lot of subtle color - yellows, mustards, subdued orange. But the insane hues I saw last year were missing. 

Video to show what I mean, along with views of the highly changeable weather Sunday, is at the bottom of this post to enjoy. 

I guess this year's meh foliage season is just another insult in an incredibly difficult weather year for Vermont. 

Blame the muted colors I saw Sunday on the one to four inches of rain we had on Saturday to erase a good share of the color. The wind gusts to 35 mph and additional scattered showers on Sunday didn't help. 

Plus, the wet summer we had seemed to diminish the colors somewhat by giving some of the leaves a fungus that prevented them from showing their full autumn color. And caused those leaves to drop early. 

At least the sky was interesting Sunday, with billowing, dark clouds, shafts of bright sunshine, shadows, light and rainbows. 

At least the sky added some color to the landscape,
Sunday, as you can see with this rainbow
near Sheldon, Vermont. 

I think Foliage Season 2023 is pretty much kaput for the Northeast Kingdom, north central Vermont and most of the high elevations. 

Don't get too disappointed, though. There are plenty of signs we might see an autumnal foliage second wind.  

That's especially true along the hillsides in warmer valleys, like the Champlain region, low elevations along and near Routes 7, 30 and 133 in southwestern Vermont and the lower Connecticut River Valley.

In those areas, there was still plenty of green on the hillsides as of Sunday. This week will be seasonably cool, so new colors should pop out fairly quickly in these areas,  Although it will be breezy, it doesn't look like there will be any real storms until the weekend.

Even then, there's a decent shot the next storm could slide by to our south. So the colors ain't over yet! Fall foliage season is not quite over yet. At least in some parts of Vermont. 

Video:  Dulled foliage, but still pretty amid very changeable skies Sunday in Vermont. Click on this link to view. Or if you see image below, click on that: