We May Not See Much of a Fall Foliage in Michigan This Year

the falling leaves and their changing colors. However, this year in Michigan, that could look a little different than usual.

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A mix of dry weather, especially in parts of Mid-Michigan, combined with funky temperature swings means the color and duration of peak foliage could shift from what we’re used to.

How Drought Is Changing Leaf Timing

Explore Fall, recently built a forecasting model to help sort out the dilemma of Michigan’s fall foliage, and they’ve noted that parts of the state are already in deep drought, with more expected ahead.

READ MORE: 15 Reasons Why Spring is the Worst Season in Michigan

That drought affects a lot, including when the leaves actually begin to change. It can even speed the process up, shortening the window of vibrant color.

Temperature Swings and Leaf Chemistry

The weather this month has already been strange. September started cooler, which helps kick trees into breaking down chlorophyll. But now, with the warming trend, that flip-flop is messing with the chemistry in the leaves.

Will We Still See Those Rich Reds?

Trees may have already started their color shift, and with the sudden warmth, they could get thrown off. That means we might not see the same rich reds we typically do.

We may see pockets of color here in Michigan, but they might fade before you actually get a chance to enjoy them.

Still, there’s hope. We could see a strong color peak by mid-October, with things becoming more widespread closer to the 20th.