A stunning satellite image captured on October 19 reveals Michigan’s spectacular autumn transformation as vibrant fall colors paint the state’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas in a remarkable display of natural beauty.
The image, taken by NOAA-20’s VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) satellite, showcases Michigan’s Lower Peninsula—affectionately known as “the mitten”—with its diverse palette of seasonal colors.
In the northern regions, maples burst with brilliant reds and oranges, while aspen and larch trees contribute golden yellows to the landscape. The Upper Peninsula, though partially obscured by wispy clouds, exhibits similar hues.
Southern portions of the state display an even more diverse array of deciduous trees, including sassafras, hickory, and black gum, all contributing to the colorful mosaic. Throughout the state, evergreen conifers provide a steady green backdrop, creating a striking contrast to the seasonal changes.
NASA Earth Observatory
The 2024 fall color season has shown some variation from typical patterns, largely due to an unusually warm September.
“We had a very warm September, so it was a little bit delayed,” Nick Nerbonne, Media, Digital & Industry Relations Director at Pure Michigan, told Newsweek. “There are still beautiful fall colors across the Lower Peninsula.”
At the time the satellite image was captured the northern coastal areas—particularly near Petoskey and Traverse City along Lake Michigan—were experiencing peak color conditions. Meanwhile, Detroit and various inland regions had already moved past their peak display.
“The thing about fall in Michigan is that the entire state has fall colors,” Nerbonne said. “A scenic drive that is a beautiful place in the summertime changes into an ultra-beautiful drive in the fall.”
He particularly emphasized Michigan’s distinctive geography: “We have 3,288 miles of Great Lakes coastline, so the combination of all of the full spectrum of blues in the Great Lakes and also in our 11,000 inland lakes combined with the reds, yellows, and oranges of the fall colors is a spectacular combination.”
This annual color transformation occurs when cooling temperatures and shorter daylight hours trigger plants to cease chlorophyll production. As the green chlorophyll pigments fade, they reveal the underlying yellow and red pigments that create the season’s characteristic display.
While parts of the Upper Peninsula have already experienced their first snowfall of the season, there’s still time to enjoy the show.
“This weekend and for the next week or so will be a great time to still see fall colors, but we’re headed towards the downside of the fall color season,” Nerbonne said.
Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about fall foliage? Let us know via science@newsweek.com.
