COLUMBUS Ga. (WRBL)- With the official start of fall less than ten days away, some may be wondering when they can see the beautiful fall colors.
Colors Right Now: This weekend, most of the United States is seeing little to no change at all in the foliage. Some areas across the Rockies and in the Northwest part of the country are seeing patchy color this week.
Peak Color: Over the next several weeks, the fall color will move quickly across the nation. The northern part of the country will see peak colors as early as October.
The southeast will likely not see peak fall foliage until November. Most of the WRBL area can expect mid-November to be the best time to see the bright colors.
How do Leaves Change? The science behind this change in color comes down to three key factors: leaf pigments, length of night, and the weather.
There are three leaf pigments that are part of the fall color. Carotenoids give yellow and orange colors, Anthocyanin give red color, and Chlorophyll gives leaves the basic green color.
During the spring and summer, chlorophyll is being produced and broken down effectively. Once fall begins, the longer nights cause less time for leaves to produce/break down chlorophyll, so the leaves will lose their green color. The carotenoids and anthocyanins left over help give the bright fall color we see.
Weather also plays a crucial role in the fall foliage. When we have warm days and cool nights, this causes sugars to be produced but stay trapped in the leaves. More sugars in a leaf will lead to brighter colors later.
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