Colorado Drought Brings Peak Fall Color Earlier Than Normal

news image
Special Stories
23 Sep 2018 3:21 PM
https://youtu.be/S-8lK077AS8   More than half of Colorado is experiencing some stage of drought. The San Juans Mountains in the southwest part of the state are still in the highest drought category possible and for nearly all mountain areas along and north of I-70, the intensity of the drought continues to climb into the extreme category. We know that normal changing of leaves in the Fall is due to a breakdown of chlorophyll or in simple terms, the tree begins to stop the feeding process and essentially go into "shutdown" mode for the winter. But during a drought, this process usually occurs sooner and doesn't last as long. As drought conditions persist in the state of Colorado, this puts more stress on the trees allowing for an earlier arrival of fall color to peak. This also leads to the trees shedding their leaves faster as well. This means that peak color has come approximately two weeks early for many areas across the high country of the Colorado Rockies. Check out some the peak fall color from the Rocky Mountains below. Elsewhere across the Unites States, Peak Fall Colors will really start to show by mid-October. Happy Leaf Peeping, everyone! Meteorologist Merry Matthews  
All Weather News
More
Heavy Rain Returns to Texas This Weekend

Heavy Rain Returns to Texas This Weekend

It's been a week since the devastating floods

12 Jul 2025 3:10 AM
Medium Range Tropics Forecast Favors Gulf, CSU Updates Seasonal Forecast

Medium Range Tropics Forecast Favors Gulf, CSU Updates Seasonal Forecast

While the Atlantic appears quiet, conditions

12 Jul 2025 3:05 AM
Elevated Tornado Risk Targets the Midwest Friday

Elevated Tornado Risk Targets the Midwest Friday

Friday was another busy day with severe weath

12 Jul 2025 3:00 AM
Storms Return From the Front Range to Texas

Storms Return From the Front Range to Texas

Moisture is moving back into the Central and

12 Jul 2025 2:50 AM
Timeline: How Catastrophic Flooding Unfolded in Texas Hill Country

Timeline: How Catastrophic Flooding Unfolded in Texas Hill Country

TEXAS - Catastrophic flooding devastated port

11 Jul 2025 10:00 AM
Severe Thunderstorms Expected Across the East Coast

Severe Thunderstorms Expected Across the East Coast

The severe weather and flood threat continues

11 Jul 2025 2:35 AM
Ruidoso Flash Flooding - Record Crest for the Rio Ruidoso River

Ruidoso Flash Flooding - Record Crest for the Rio Ruidoso River

A slow-moving monsoonal thunderstorm develope

10 Jul 2025 1:55 AM