Forecasters predict spectacular Ohio fall foliage for 2011
With the 2010 drought behind us and nearly perfect spring and summer weather for this year, forecasters are predicting Ohio’s 2011 fall foliage displays will be bursting with color.
Ohio is on tap to have a spectacular display of fall foliage colors next month, according to fall color experts at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
So far this year, the weather has been favorable for quality leaf color with most of the state receiving normal to above-normal precipitation during the spring and summer months. This is a fairly good indicator that Ohio’s woodlands will be bursting with bright yellows, robust reds, and deep oranges when the fall color season peaks in October.
“Fall colors for 2011 will be much better than last year,” said Casey Burdick, fall color forecaster for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. “Last year’s drought really only provided for about a week of fall color. This year, the weather has been much more moderate.”
Weather conditions during the spring and summer months determine the brilliance of autumn leaf color as well as the length of time the colors remain on the trees.
“So we can be very hopeful that in September and October we get those bright sunny days and cool, not freezing nights that are going to bring out that best red, orange, yellow, and all those great colors we look forward to.”
Joe Ebner, owner and operator of the Tuscarawas Weather Network, says that fall colors depend entirely on the weather. “The shorter days and cooler temperatures we see in the fall signal trees and other deciduous plants to start getting ready for winter.”
According to Ebner, trees make less chlorophyll when the shorter days of autumn provide less sunlight to plants. The angle of light from the sun during autumn also shifts more to the south which means less intense sunlight and energy for plants. Chlorophyll, the green pigment in leaves and the key compound that produces food for trees and plants, is produced at a reduced rate in response to dwindling sunlight. When the plant produces less chlorophyll, the other colors present in the plant’s leaves begin to show.
“Those colors are always there,” said Ebner. “But the green color of chlorophyll dominates leaf color throughout the summer when leaves are producing food for the plant.”
The amount of color brilliance plants and trees display in autumn depends on the weather conditions present before and during the time chlorophyll in leaves dwindle. Warm sunny days and crisp, but not freezing, nights seems to bring about the most spectacular color displays.
Soil moisture is also a factor and it can vary considerably from year to year. A warm wet spring, favorable summer weather, and warm sunny autumn days with cool nights should produce the most brilliant colors.
“Since the Tuscarawas Valley has had an above-average amount of rainfall this year, soil moisture conditions should be optimum.” said Ebner. “That’s a positive factor for a good fall color season. All we will need to have fall into place as we get into autumn will be those warm sunny days and cool, frostless nights.”
Ebner said that fall color outings are popular around the Tuscarawas Valley and the Tuscarawas Weather Network is gearing up to provide links to Ohio Fall Color Reports on his website at http://www.tuscweather.net.
According to Ebner, fall leaf color in Ohio peaks at different times during the fall season. Northern Ohio should peak around the first week in October. Since Tuscarawas County is in the middle of the state, our leaf colors should peak around the second and third weeks. Southern Ohio peaks toward the end of October.
Ohio is on tap to have a spectacular display of fall foliage colors next month, according to fall color experts at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
So far this year, the weather has been favorable for quality leaf color with most of the state receiving normal to above-normal precipitation during the spring and summer months. This is a fairly good indicator that Ohio’s woodlands will be bursting with bright yellows, robust reds, and deep oranges when the fall color season peaks in October.
“Fall colors for 2011 will be much better than last year,” said Casey Burdick, fall color forecaster for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. “Last year’s drought really only provided for about a week of fall color. This year, the weather has been much more moderate.”
Weather conditions during the spring and summer months determine the brilliance of autumn leaf color as well as the length of time the colors remain on the trees.
“So we can be very hopeful that in September and October we get those bright sunny days and cool, not freezing nights that are going to bring out that best red, orange, yellow, and all those great colors we look forward to.”
Joe Ebner, owner and operator of the Tuscarawas Weather Network, says that fall colors depend entirely on the weather. “The shorter days and cooler temperatures we see in the fall signal trees and other deciduous plants to start getting ready for winter.”
According to Ebner, trees make less chlorophyll when the shorter days of autumn provide less sunlight to plants. The angle of light from the sun during autumn also shifts more to the south which means less intense sunlight and energy for plants. Chlorophyll, the green pigment in leaves and the key compound that produces food for trees and plants, is produced at a reduced rate in response to dwindling sunlight. When the plant produces less chlorophyll, the other colors present in the plant’s leaves begin to show.
“Those colors are always there,” said Ebner. “But the green color of chlorophyll dominates leaf color throughout the summer when leaves are producing food for the plant.”
The amount of color brilliance plants and trees display in autumn depends on the weather conditions present before and during the time chlorophyll in leaves dwindle. Warm sunny days and crisp, but not freezing, nights seems to bring about the most spectacular color displays.
Soil moisture is also a factor and it can vary considerably from year to year. A warm wet spring, favorable summer weather, and warm sunny autumn days with cool nights should produce the most brilliant colors.
“Since the Tuscarawas Valley has had an above-average amount of rainfall this year, soil moisture conditions should be optimum.” said Ebner. “That’s a positive factor for a good fall color season. All we will need to have fall into place as we get into autumn will be those warm sunny days and cool, frostless nights.”
Ebner said that fall color outings are popular around the Tuscarawas Valley and the Tuscarawas Weather Network is gearing up to provide links to Ohio Fall Color Reports on his website at http://www.tuscweather.net.
According to Ebner, fall leaf color in Ohio peaks at different times during the fall season. Northern Ohio should peak around the first week in October. Since Tuscarawas County is in the middle of the state, our leaf colors should peak around the second and third weeks. Southern Ohio peaks toward the end of October.
Published: September 20, 2011
