Helene's impacts on fall foliage

The Blue Ridge Parkway is famous for its fall color, but this season will look different post-Helene.

The Blue Ridge Parkway runs 469 miles between North Carolina and Virginia, and is one of the most scenic routes in the U.S. Western North Carolina typically welcomes millions of visitors in October and early November to view fall foliage. However, this year, many roads remained closed or only open for essential traffic after Helene destroyed infrastructure in the area.

Hurricane Helene also downed numerous trees and stripped the leaves off canopies along the Blue Ridge Parkway. You'll want to stick to the lower elevations this year to see fall color. Many ridges had their leaves blown off, especially along the east and southeast-facing slopes. The Smokies and the Foothills will have the best fall color this year.

For those who want to experience the Blue Ridge Parkway experience, the Virginia portions of the route remain open. While some parts of the North Carolina section of the parkway are open, you will need to check your route ahead of time.

No matter where you plan to view fall foliage, checking conditions on the WeatherRadar is essential. Also, hurricane season doesn't end until Nov. 30, so make sure your hurricane alerts are turned on.