Fall color will likely reach its peak later than usual this year across a large portion of the United States, and the weather is to blame.
By mid-September, some parts of the Rockies and northern tier often begin to see the early stages of fall color, eventually reaching a late-September peak in the Rockies' highest elevations, northern MInnesota and northern New England. Then, an early- or mid-October peak is typically found in the rest of the Rockies, Midwest, Appalachians and most of the Northeast.
Similar to last year, however, fall color is likely to run behind schedule again, particularly in the central and eastern U.S.
This is because the eastern half of the nation is predicted to have above-average temperatures in mid- to late September, according to the latest 8- to 14-day outlook from NOAA's Climate Prediction Center. The Great Lakes and Northeast could be particularly warm over the next one to two weeks.
The weather before and during the time when chlorophyll in leaves decreases affects when leaves change and how vibrant their colors are, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
But the weather is just one factor that influences their color. The shorter amount of daylight is the primary trigger for the color change. As the nights become longer and colder, chlorophyll production slows and eventually stops. Without chlorophyll, the yellow and orange pigments of the leaves become dominant, resulting in the many beautiful colors of fall.
Warm, sunny days with cool nights are the ideal conditions for a colorful change. Soil moisture is also important. Both drought and excessive rainfall can be detrimental to a spectacular foliage season.
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