AUGUSTA (AP) – The state has kicked off its 50th year of fall foliage reports with an announcement that Maine’s forests are healthy and on track to produce “magnificent” color.

At present, rangers are observing very low leaf color, or less than 10 percent toward peak, along with very low leaf drop. But recent drops in overnight temperatures, with cool nights and sunny days, are expected to spark gradual color change from north to south.

Maine’s weekly public foliage reports began in 1959 under former Forestry Commissioner Austin Wilkins.