October 8, 2012
Fall foliage is already in full swing across the Northeastern United States, while signs of change are beginning to show up in the Midwest. The typical peak for Fall colors occurs in October, however some areas to the west won’t see their peak until early November.
Normal Time for Peak Foliage Color
Temperature and soil moisture play a large role in the vibrancy of fall colors. Warm sunny days followed by cool nights bring the most colorful leaves. These conditions allow the leaves to slowly become dormant, bringing out the most colorful foliage. The amount of soil moisture also affects the onset and amount of color seen, with adequate soil moisture providing optimum color.
What can we expect for color this year?
Recent warm days and cool nights have allowed some decent colors to appear in northwestern Missouri. However, with the lack of soil moisture caused by this summer’s drought we can expect “leaf peaking” to be less intense this fall.
Track Fall Foliage in Missouri – Missouri Department of Conservation
Read about Fall Colors in Nebraska – Nebraska Games & Parks Commission
Weekly Updates on Foliage in Iowa – Iowa Department of Natural Resources