Fall is almost here in New England, which means New Hampshire is about to erupt in fall colors.

According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, leaves can change their color from as early as mid-September all the way through early November. However, the exact timing of fall colors, as well as how vivid they are, depends on the location and weather of the year.

Many weather factors can affect the fall color show, including drought, precipitation and warmer temperatures. The Climate Prediction Center predicts a warmer-than-average fall for nearly the entire U.S., which can lower the intensity of autumn colors, but the Old Farmer’s Almanac still predicts a great year for fall foliage in New England, recommending people take a trip to the White Mountains for the show.

And they’re not the only ones. Here’s a look at two of the other key forecasts.

Where and when leaves are predicted to change

Here’s a breakdown of how the 2024 foliage is predicted to change across the U.S., according to maps from the Smoky Mountains website:

As seen in these maps, the vibrant fall hues which New Hampshire is so well-known for are expected to peak in the first half of October. The region’s colorful foliage displays bring in about ten million leafpeepers each year.

Here is a map from AccuWeather showing the best month for autumn colors across the country:

Like the Smoky Mountains, AccuWeather predicts that New England’s best month for foliage will be October, with most of the region peaking in the early or middle parts of the month. According to this map, northern corners of Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine could see an earlier peak in late September, while Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts will peak later in October.

More: Visit these six Eastern Mass. parks and trails to view great foliage this fall

How leaves change color in the fall

As plants receive less and less sunlight in the shortened days of fall, the production of chlorophyll, a substance which makes the leaves appear green by saturating them through turning sunlight into glucose, slows down. Without chlorophyll, the “true” color of leaves comes through, according to the Smoky Mountains website.

Changed leaves then begin to fall off their branches as the trees close off their veins in preparation for protection in winter, meaning the leaves no longer receive nutrients and therefore weaken at the stem.

SOURCE: The National Forest Service, SmokyMountains.com, ExploreFall.com

Doyle Rice and Janet Loehrke of USA Today contributed to this report.

“We are going to hold the State of New Hampshire accountable for Harmony’s senseless and preventable death, shine a light on the systemic failures in her case to prevent future tragedies, give Harmony the voice that she never had, and get Harmony the justice that she so deeply deserves,” said Cyrus F. Rilee, an attorney representing Sorey in the case.

Authorities in both New Hampshire and Massachusetts largely overlooked Harmony’s two-year disappearance, and the case has illuminated gaps in child protective services in both states.

“We will review the complaint and respond as appropriate,” said Michael S. Garrity, a spokesperson for the attorney general’s office.

“I’m Harmony’s voice, and I’m her warrior. Everything I do is for her. I can’t let people forget,” Sorey told reporters in March, after a court appearance that paved the way for civil litigation.

According to the lawsuit, Harmony Montgomery lived with her mother in Massachusetts from the time she was born in 2014 until February 2019, when the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families removed the child from Sorey over allegations of neglect. Sorey has said she was struggling with substance abuse at the time.

State officials in Massachusetts worked with New Hampshire’s Division of Children, Youth, and Families, placing the child in her father’s custody in Manchester, N.H., according to the complaint.

It details how about five months after the placement, multiple people, including Adam’s uncle Kevin Montgomery, started making reports to DCYF, expressing their concern about Harmony’s living conditions and her well-being, after she was seen with a black eye.

“Kevin reported that Adam told him he had ‘bounced her off every f—ing wall in this place,’” the lawsuit said. While speaking with a DCYF staffer, the lawsuit said, Kevin Montgomery grew frustrated when he was questioned on the accuracy of his dates, and said “this is why children die” and that “this child was punched clear in the eye socket with full force.”

Another person who reported issues to DCYF also had concerns that Harmony’s situation could end up being fatal for her.

The reports to DCYF included details about unsafe living conditions, how electricity and hot water in the home had been turned off, the presence of drug paraphernalia, and how Harmony’s father punished her by forcing her to stand in the corner for hours or stay in her bedroom from when she woke up until the late afternoon, according to the lawsuit.

Reports were also made to DCYF about how Harmony wasn’t receiving care from a doctor, and that in the fall, she hadn’t been enrolled in school, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit argues that the state was negligent and didn’t meet minimum standards of care for Harmony, even after receiving reports about physical and emotional abuse and neglect by her caretakers.

It also says that the state failed to launch a thorough and competent investigation into reports of suspected abuse, exposing Harmony to “foreseeable harm.” According to the lawsuit, as a direct result of DCYF’s negligence Harmony endured corporal punishment, verbal and mental abuse, and beatings that ultimately caused her death.

Sorey has said she didn’t hear from the girl’s father after 2019, and she grew frantic in 2021. At that point, she turned to the Manchester police and mayor’s office, resulting in an investigation that culminated in Adam Montgomery’s arrest.

New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu slammed the Massachusetts courts for placing Harmony with a “monstrous drug dealer.” But this lawsuit contends that child welfare workers in New Hampshire were ultimately responsible because they didn’t remove her from his custody after receiving reports of his abuse.

Sununu’s office released a seven-page report in February 2022 acknowledging that a New Hampshire child welfare worker repeatedly made contact with Adam Montgomery after his daughter’s disappearance. At least twice, the worker asked specifically about Harmony’s whereabouts, and Adam Montgomery claimed he had returned the girl to her mother. The worker left a voicemail for Sorey in January 2020, but the message went unreturned, and there is no evidence that any additional attempts were made to contact her, according to the report.

The Massachusetts Office of the Child Advocate released a 100-page report in May 2022, acknowledging that the state’s child welfare system overlooked Harmony’s needs at every turn.

Material from prior Globe reports was used in this article.

Amanda Gokee can be reached at amanda.gokee@globe.com. Follow her @amanda_gokee.

The New Hampshire Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Wednesday, September 11, 2024 results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from September 11 drawing

10-12-55-65-67, Powerball: 03, Power Play: 3

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from September 11 drawing

12-19-37-43-48, Lucky Ball: 01

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from September 11 drawing

Day: 2-7-0

Evening: 2-6-2

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from September 11 drawing

Day: 0-4-1-4

Evening: 9-0-2-7

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Megabucks Plus numbers from September 11 drawing

12-13-14-15-22, Megaball: 04

Check Megabucks Plus payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Gimme 5 numbers from September 11 drawing

02-15-22-24-28

Check Gimme 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the New Hampshire Lottery drawings held?

• Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
• Pick 3, 4: 1:10 p.m. and 6:55 p.m. daily.
• Mega Millions: 11:00 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
• Megabucks Plus: 7:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
• Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily.
• Gimme 5: 6:55 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.

Where can you buy lottery tickets?

Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Texas, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a New Hampshire managing editor. You can send feedback using this form.