eyewall

Here are a few shots with some enhancement (though nothing too crazy) of the foliage in the NC Mountains. It is considered a dud up there as well (worst in over a decade). That said, there were still some nice views:

A few more shots from my foliage hunt. These are enhanced some but not over the top. The views are nice despite a more lackluster year:

Note: Aerials were taken via launching from US-221 at a pulloff. It is not legal to launch along the parkway. 

I am happy the ADK's produced nicely for me just before I left on my recent visit because down here it is being called the worst foliage season in over a decade for the NC High Country:
http://wataugaonline.com/fall-color-report/

I took this drone shot on my daytrip to the NC mountains (I may post a few more). Good views but color is lacking as this has some enhancement:

The NC Mountains have already had their first taste of snow now and recent high winds blew off a lot of remaining leaves.

I went up to the mountains on Friday and it was abysmal in most spots. There were pockets of color, but a lot of trees are just browning out. Many had quite a bit of leaf drop as already noted. Definitely a lot of disappointed tourists I am sure. Here are a few shots:

Is there any sign of a foliage season in the NC mountains or is it a complete dud? The reports I have seen sound pretty dismal.

On 10/17/2018 at 1:09 PM, WxBlue said:

High elevation areas of western North Carolina are pretty good too.

Not this year. It is a failed foliage season in western NC for now. The highest elevations are dull and browning out with leaf drop. Below that, the color doesn't seem to want to go and is over 2 weeks behind at this point. Not sure if there will be much of anything but going from green to brown as the leaves drop off. 

On 10/13/2018 at 4:56 PM, powderfreak said:

BTV on the lookout for Snowliage, the mix of snow and foliage this week.  Looks like more snow chances even to the mountain valleys mid-week.

 

Highs Wednesday will only be in the upper 30s to mid 40s with snow levels lowering through the day to near the valley floor by sunset. As such, morning rain showers will mix with and change to snow by early afternoon across the Adirondacks, and then during the remainder of the afternoon over central and northern Vermont, lingering into Wednesday night. While early in the game to nail down the finer details, the potential exists for total snow accumulations by Thursday morning of 1-3" above 1500' and a dusting to an inch from 500-1500'. In addition, winds Wednesday will be quite brisk with gusts likely in the 20-30 mph range, which will make for some chilly wind chills. Surface high pressure builds back in the region for Thursday with dry conditions ensuing. Temps remain quite cold for mid-October with lows Wednesday night mainly in the 20s, and highs Thursday only in the 30s. Depending on how much snow falls on the higher elevations, and the amount of leaves left on the trees, we could have some nice snowliage Thursday afternoon/evening with some breaks of sunshine possible. 

I remember getting some great snowliage shots in the Notch on a couple of occasions. 10/17/2015 was a good one:

Yep no power here in the Mordecai area. It was an exciting hour or so. Sudden bursts of 50+

Pretty boring in Raleigh so far. We will see what these backside winds do if they materialize here.

I am happy I got to shoot some fantastic color in the ADK's as apparently indications are it will be a failed season in the NC Blue Ridge. Too warm and too much rain. 

58 minutes ago, powderfreak said:

I mean, it has gone nuclear within 72 hours.  Still a decent amount of green mixed in but the reds and oranges are as fiery as ever.

It is looking like a similar vibrance to what I saw in the High Peaks!

One more drone and some ground:

Some stills from my foliage adventure on 9/28 and 10/1. More to come soon (Note: these are facebook resolution which kills quality a touch):

5 hours ago, uncletim said:

Intense color. Thanks for giving those of us in the tropics some vicarious enjoyment!

No problem! I am just happy I got to see this before having to go back to NC. If this is any indication, it could become real vibrant in other areas changing quickly now!

Straight out of the camera drone clip from North Elba in the ADK's on 10.1.2018 as I detoured on my back to NC:

The weather wasn't really there for a truly visually compelling wide shot but I did this quick before departing for NC. This was near North Elba before getting to Lake Placid in the ADK's off 73 on 10.1.2018 (not processed, straight from the drone camera):

Nearing peak now in the high peaks of the ADK's

I am on the road home but detoured over to the high peaks region of the adks and wow what a change in just a few days. High color to hear peak near North Elba by Lake Placid. I will have a clip later on from a rainy drone flight

There was better color farther up the road from this but I couldn't pass up the lighting here (shot on 9/28). This is straight out of the camera with no edits:

The best color was farther up the road from where I shot this but I couldn't pass up the lighting due to the cloud movements. This is straight from the camera without edits:

On 9/26/2018 at 4:35 PM, wxeyeNH said:

Jeremy,   I was thinking of you the past week as we now turn the seasons and wondered where you had gone.  Good luck down there in NC.  Thanks for your drone advice over the past couple of years and for your great pictures.  Hopefully  there will be a couple of good southern snowstorms for you!

I hope so. On a side note I went over to the ADK's yesterday and the color is quite a bit further along there. There were some pockets in the high peaks region outside of Lake Placid at Moderate to High Color just below the evergreens. 

3 minutes ago, mreaves said:

Record snow year incoming!  Good luck.  NC has some great areas. I love the mountains and the OBX, in between, meh.   My paternal grandmother was from Cherokee and my Grandfather was from Durham.  

Yeah you guys will get hammered but hey I did get a 30 inch storm before leaving  I plan on making a Feb ski trip as well.

29 minutes ago, mreaves said:

You're not living up here anymore?

I had to move back to NC in June for my fiancee.  I am not thrilled about having to have left but I am happy to have her. I will miss snow.

The fall colors are a touch late because I am up for a visit LOL with my Mavic 2 Pro. 

Sustained TS conditions in Fayetteville, NC (40 mph with 55 mph gusts).