The first Fall Color Report from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources was issued today.
Many factors affect how “brilliant” our fall colors will be each year. Stress, like the lack of rain in August and September, often brightens fall colors.
But with the unpredictable weather, warm evenings, or an early frost, can cause leaves to be duller.
In Northeast Iowa, virginia creeper and sumac are turning crimson. Cottonwood, elm, ash, walnut, hackberry and basswood are turning yellow. The estimated peak viewing time for Northeast Iowa is between October 10th-20th.
For North Central Iowa, walnut, ash, elms and hackberry have started turning yellow. Estimated peak viewing time for North Central Iowa is mid-October.