Rochesterians share their thoughts on the seasonal change

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — The fall foliage across Western New York and the Finger Lakes has begun to show its true color this season.

Wednesday afternoon we visited Genesee Valley Park to get reactions from community members on their thoughts on the seasonal changes and what’s ahead.

"Fall is for sure my favorite season! I grew up in the Adirondacks, so I grew up with all the fall foliage. The temperature is great, I was a soccer player so soccer season I’m used to spending mornings and evenings out on the cool, crisp fall days," John Thibdeau said.

However, some people are not thrilled to give up the warm weather as the Winter Solstice is 69 days away as of Oct. 13.

“Fall is not my favorite season of the year because I always figure in the middle of October when the weather starts getting a little cooler you know it’s all downhill from there," Donald Koeplin said.

So far this October, we have not been on the cool side and the community is taking notice.

"It looks like this year, because of the mild weather we’ve had so far, it’s going to be a late leaf cleaning season the yard or whatever. The trees in my backyard are still loaded with leaves. I feel like I’ll be raking up leaves, cleaning up leaves until at least the first of December or so," Koeplin said.

The recent mild stretch of weather has prolonged peak color locally, but the good news is that things are changing as we head into next week. The large upper-level blocking pattern that has kept much of the Eastern U.S. on the mild side to start this month will finally break down this weekend as a strong cold front barrels through. This will turn our weather towards the seasonal average with highs in the lows 60s and lows in the mid-40s.

In order to get the leaves to change we need the consistently cool temperatures and it looks like we will finally see it next week.