New England reaching peak color this month

It’s hard on such a rainy day to think about trekking through all of the beautiful, vibrant foliage New England has to offer this special time of year. But after today, series out because the weather for the rest of the week and into the weekend is looking great — and just in time because peak foliage season is in full effect across parts of all six New England states.

Although the northern regions of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont are already past peak foliage, peak leaf color arrived last week across Western Massachusetts and continues to slowly blanket the rest of the state as it also spreads south into Rhode Island and Connecticut. Boston and the immediate coast, and all the way south to Rhode Island and Fairfield County, Conn., and north to Portland will peak by Halloween or a few days earlier.

You’ll have until the end of October to check out the country’s best foliage before the window closes for good.

Here’s a look at the updated timeframe to catch peak color:

• Northern New England: Much of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont is past peak or getting there this week, although you should be able to catch some peak colors in the southern part of the region.

• Coastal New Hampshire and Maine: Peaking starting later this week and lasting through Halloween.

• Massachusetts: Parts of the Berkshires are already peaking, but the week ahead will boast peak color nearly everywhere from Worcester through the Berkshires, and starting as far east as the fringes of Greater Boston. Peak color should last through this weekend.

Boston will likely see peak colors begin roughly this weekend and lasting through Halloween.

• Rhode Island and Connecticut: Peak color began as early as last weekend and will ramp up dramatically this week, peaking nearly everywhere by Oct. 27 and lasting through Halloween.

A view of some of the foliage in Portsmouth, N.H.:

Below is the average peak timeframe for fall foliage across New England. Nearly everywhere in the region has seen an earlier turn in the leaves this year by a few days.

Nearly all of New England saw a jump-start to this year’s foliage season, brought on by rapid drought that’s been spreading across New England since late summer.

The varying tree species across New England are reacting uniquely this year, mainly because of stressors, like the drought, and because trees store varying amounts of water in their leaves, so you may see pockets of beautiful colors with some trees skipping the color transition and calling it quits for the season. Some maple trees are changing colors quick, while other species are simply dropping leaves quickly after briefly turning yellow.

With peak leaf color underway or on our doorstep, take a shot of the changing colors in your backyard or at your local park!

Quick tip: Hold your phone horizontally. We’ll showcase the current foliage shots in the next update to the Globe Weather HQ’s foliage tracker.

Sign up here for our daily Globe Weather Forecast that will arrive straight into your inbox bright and early each weekday morning.

Ken Mahan can be reached at ken.mahan@globe.com. Follow him on Instagram @kenmahantheweatherman.