When will fall color begin to show in Michigan?

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The first day of astronomical fall is still two weeks away on Sunday, Sept. 22. As temperatures cool off for the first weekend of September, the fall feeling will start to kick in.

HOW DOES WEATHER IMPACT FALL COLOR?

The weather leading up to fall certainly has an impact on when colors change and how vibrant the colors will be. Ideal conditions for bright reds and oranges include warm, sunshine-filled days paired with cooler overnights.

A stormy or windy pattern could cause damage to leaves allowing them to fall too early. If consistent frost or freezes occur, leaves may die off or have a significantly duller color later in the season. Neither of these are expected for mid-September.

Amount of rainfall also plays a role in how and when fall foliage takes place. Near normal soil moisture allows leaf color to be lively. Most of Michigan is currently drought-free — a good sign for this fall.

Too much rain can have impacts on fall color as well. Luckily, the overall pattern for the next two weeks looks to be drier than normal.

WHEN WILL THE LEAVES BEGIN TO CHANGE?

Although a few trees have started to show signs of yellow, West Michigan is still some time away from seeing peak fall foliage.

For the second week of September, a few trees may begin to show signs of yellow leaves, especially for northern Michigan. Otherwise, expect the peak fall color to start taking shape in mid to late October for most of the state.

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