Fall color expected earlier this year due to summer drought

Minnesota will see an early start to the fall color season, according to the state’s Department of Natural Resources.

"We’ve been getting a lot of calls on fall color and what’s going to happen," said Val Cervenka, the DNR’S forest health program coordinator.

Cervenka said the long-running drought this summer is impacting how quickly the leaves change and the intensity of the color itself.

"You have to know the trees are under stress and when trees are under stress, they shed the first part of them that loses moisture and that’s leaves," Cervenka explained.

She said fall color will begin three to four weeks early in the Twin Cities. The metro doesn’t usually see peak color until mid-September or October.

Minnesotans have been surprised to see some trees already have orange and red leaves.

"It’s literally not even the end of August," Sarah Meikel said while out for a walk in Minneapolis. "I love fall but it’s coming a little too soon."

Jim Garza added, "The sumac is just turning brown, not even red, so it’s pretty sad."

Cervenka said fall color will likely take on a dry, muted look this year.

"The colors are going to be more dull with an extended drought like this so a bright, vibrant fall is just not going to be in our future this year," Cervenka said. "I would say it will be faded, more brown and straw-colored."

She also recommends Minnesotans travel to different parts of the state than they normally would for fall color tours.

"Southeast Minnesota has been doing really pretty well in terms of moisture this year, so they’re likely to have more pockets of color," Cervenka said.

She noted different types of trees also respond differently to dry weather. Older trees with deeper roots, like old oak or elm trees, are more drought-resistant.

"It also really depends on the site and whether you’re talking about the forest or landscape trees. Landscape trees need a lot of water, so what people are seeing in their yards may be different than what you’re seeing on the trail," Cervenka said.

Cervenka said it’s difficult to predict how long fall color will last this year.

"That depends on temperature, it depends on wind, it depends on rain. The rain that is going to come is not going to change what the drought has looked like for the state but it might actually help leaves stay on longer," Cervenka explained.

She encourages Minnesotans to plan fall sight-seeing trips earlier than they normally would and to appreciate the season for whatever it brings.

"Go somewhere you haven’t been before to try and discover patches of color," Cervenka said. "There are other things to look at, too, besides leaves in the fall. There are prairie grasses that turn color, there are prairie wildflowers that turn color, so I think our expectations need to be adjusted a little bit. It will be upon us to appreciate what there is out there. Try to make lemonade out of lemons and next year will be different."

The DNR also has a Fall Color Finder on its website, which is updated weekly starting in September. Click here for more information.