AUGUSTA — The state declared Wednesday the official start of Maine’s fall foliage season with little change in leaf color.

The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry 2016 Fall Foliage Report showed less than 5 percent color change in northern Maine.

Foliage is expected to reach peak color:

• Northern Maine: Last week of September into the first week of October.
• Rest of the state: Color to progress north to south in mid-October.
• Coastal Maine: Mid-to-late October.

“Our weather conditions going forward will determine the upcoming foliage season,” wrote Gale Ross, Maine’s fall foliage spokesperson. Cool nights without a “killing frost,” shorter days and less sunlight intensity start the color change, Ross wrote.

“Our summer drought conditions can delay the onset of color by a few days; however, we should see a typical foliage season,” Ross wrote

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