Following the feast of fall colorsįall’s color “parade” varies from region to region and year to year, depending on weather conditions. The fading green allows a leaf’s true colors to emerge, producing the dazzling array of orange, yellow, red and purple pigments we refer to as fall foliage. This process stops green chlorophyll from being replenished and causes the leaf’s green color to fade. As days get shorter and nights become longer, trees prepare for winter and the next growing season by blocking off flow to and from a leaf’s stem. Trees must replenish the chlorophyll because sunlight causes it to fade over time. The green pigment becomes dominant and masks the other pigments. During the warmer growing seasons, leaves produce chlorophyll to help plants create energy from light. The four primary pigments that produce color within a leaf are: chlorophyll (green) xanthophylls (yellow) carotenoids (orange) and anthocyanins (reds and purples). Trees actually begin to show their true colors in autumn, and here’s why. How can you find the best place and time to see fall foliage in your area? NOAA’s National Weather Service regional forecast offices can provide you with a seven-day forecast of weather conditions - including the arrival times of different air masses - to help you determine the best location in your area for vibrant fall color. Freezing temperatures and hard frosts can kill the processes within a leaf and lead to poor fall color and an early separation from a tree.Drought conditions during late summer and early fall can trigger an early “shutdown” of trees as they prepare for winter. This causes leaves to fall early from trees without reaching their full color potential.Changes in weather can speed up, slow down or change the arrival time of fall’s colorful foliage. ![]() According to the United States National Arboretum, a wet growing season followed by a dry autumn filled with sunny days and cool, frostless nights results in the brightest palette of fall colors. Weather factors such as temperature, sunlight, precipitation and soil moisture influence fall color arrival, duration and vibrancy.
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