hard freeze for fall colors? (Asheville, Banner Elk: areas, weather, worth)

[SamNC]

i saw that there will be a hard freeze soon in many areas of WNC. Will that kill the fall colors, or make the leaves fall off? I want to go to the smokeys next wkeend but there should be a hard freeze in the next few days, and i dont know if it will be worth going now.

[roadpony]

Depend on where in the Smokey Mtns you are going. Banner Elk (not in the Smokies) is getting lows tonght and tomorrow of 32 and 30. Asheville isn't forecast for a low of below freezing for the next 10 days - only 32 tomorrow night. Gatlinburg is not getting below 34. You should be fine.

[SamNC]

well, what does a hard freeze actually do to fall leaves?

[Catbirds]

Originally Posted by SamNC

well, what does a hard freeze actually do to fall leaves?

According to my old mountain man, it takes the moisture out of the leaves, and can cause to leaves to fall sooner especially if there is wind and rain.I hope he is wrong.

[histo320]

The leaves will actually start to change faster but if there is no rain or wind, we should be okay for the next few weeks.

[SamNC]

ugh! it says it will be rainy this coming weekend. hopefully the weather guy is wrong