AUGUSTA -- "Peak color" is north and west on the Maine Department of Conservation's fourth fall foliage report of the season.

Forest rangers are now observing early peak conditions of at least 75 percent color change in all of northern Maine from Fort Kent to Jackman, Greenville and Millinocket.

Peak color also is being reported in the western lakes and mountains region between Bethel and Eustis.

Leaf drop is low, or less than 30 percent, in each of these areas, and the vibrant color is expected to remain through next week.

Hurricane Kyle had no negative effect on the turning foliage Down East between Belfast and Calais. Leaf drop in the region is still low, and leaf color is now moderate, or 30 to 50 percent toward peak.

Foliage color is high, between 50 and 70 percent toward peak, around Dover-Foxcroft in central Maine, and the Bangor region, while conditions are now moderate from the Augusta region southeast to Sebago Lake and Fryeburg.

The southern coast now has high color overall with low leaf drop. The dramatic one week change from low to high color in this region is due to healthy trees that extended their normal growing season.

To provide the most accurate foliage information, Department of Conservation rangers will report statewide conditions every Wednesday through Oct. 15.

The reports are posted online at www.mainefoliage.com, and visitors to the Web site can sign up to receive the weekly reports by email or RSS feed.

For more information about events and activities happening in Maine this fall, log onto www.visitmaine.com.