Fall color change accelerates this week
It looks like the perfect storm for a delayed but excellent fall color season this year across Minnesota.
Our extended summer has delayed our annual fall color burst this year by at least a week in most areas. Still, this could be the perfect year for the trees to go out in a blaze of autumnal glory.
Here's why:
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Abundant rainfall this summer with healthy dense tree canopy foliage
Relatively little extreme heat to stress trees (MSP recorded only four days of 90 degree heat this summer)
Lack of drought stress across Minnesota
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This week's weather should help accelerate fall color progression cross Minnesota.
Here's why we should see a rapid increase in the progression of fall colors this week.
Shorter daylight (daylight slips to under 12 hours this week)
Colder nights (30s north and low to mid 40s south)
Cool sunny days with highs in the 50s north and low 60s south
The latest fall color update from the Minnesota DNR shows colors beginning to pop more vividly in pockets of northern Minnesota.
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The last weekend in September is typically when colors reach "peak" across the north. This year colors are running at least a week later than the longer term averages.
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With lows this week pushing freezing across northern Minnesota, and bottoming out in the low 40s near the metro, expect the annual fall color progression to accelerate this week.
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