Ohio's fall color delayed due to recent warm temperatures, but drop in temps may help

Due to unfavorable weather conditions, many areas in Ohio might not see vibrant foliage this fall.

Previous models predicted that peak color would reach Greater Columbus this week. But rainy weather and warm temperatures so far this fall have stunted the development of fall color throughout the state, according to a recent update by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Only a few areas are experiencing near peak conditions, while most of Ohio is still seeing patchy colors.

“In general, the weather across the state has not been ideal for vibrant fall color development,” said David Parrott, ODNR's fall color forester. “However, some places are still on track to have a good display of yellows, oranges and reds in the coming weeks.”

ODNR has developed a fall color progress map for those looking for outdoor opportunities to track foliage development.

Tree splendor: Where to find Ohio's most colorful foliage this autumn season

Atypical weather conditions have disrupted normal color development

Color changes on leaves take place as a result of shorter days and lower temperatures during the fall season, Parrott explained.

When the trees sense that winter is approaching, they start pulling resources from the leaves back to the trees themselves. Chlorophyll –– which gives plants their green color –– breaks down, and the yellow to orange pigments on the leaves become visible.

“A lot of the trees (right now) are just green, so that has to do with the fact that the weather conditions right now are similar to summer conditions,” Parrott said. 

Red color in leaves comes from another type of chemical called anthocyanin, which the trees produce when there are sunny days and cold nights. The state has not experienced many cooler nights until the last few days, and as a result, many areas where leaves have begun turning are still getting yellows rather than reds, Parrott said.

During normal times, fall colors tend to progress from the north of Ohio to the south in a span of about three weeks. But because of uneven precipitation this year, residents will not see the typical north-to-south mosaic of fall colors. Conditions will be patchy throughout the state, according to Parrot.

A scavenger hunt to find the best fall colors

The window for color changes will close in about two weeks. It is possible that residents in most areas will not see vibrant foliage at all this fall, but Parrott said he is hoping that weather changes in the past few days will put things back on track.

“We’ve had quite a turn in the weather here ... where we're actually getting some cold nights,” he said. “Now we have our fingers crossed that it will inspire the trees to produce some more of those reds and oranges that we're not seeing a whole lot of right now.”

The National Weather Service is forecasting high temperatures dropping from the low 70s earlier this week into low to mid-60s Friday through the weekend into early next week. Those more seasonable temperatures with cold overnight lows in the 40s might trigger that sudden change in the foliage Parrott anticipates.

Parrott said the best destinations not too far from Columbus where people can check out the fall foliage are Alum Creek State Park in Delaware County; Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve and John Bryan State Park in Greene County; and Mohican-Memorial State Forest in Ashland County.

But it might take a little exploring for visitors to find the right spot. In the Mohican-Memorial State Forest, for example, trees around the valleys are showing decent colors but those on the top of the hills are still mostly green.

Closer to Columbus, Blendon Woods Metropark in Columbus and Inniswood Metro Gardens in Westerville and Blendon Township have also been showing spotty color change in their trees this week, with some yellows and some burnt oranges, but still a lot of green. 

Blendon Woods Metropark, located at 4265 E. Dublin Granville Rd. off Route 161, does have Fall Foliage Tour signs up for motorists to follow so they can drive through the park and leaf peep, though as of Wednesday the foresty foliage there was largely green.  

“This year, the exciting part is that it’s going to be like a scavenger hunt,” Parrott said. “It’s not as easy as in previous years, where you can just walk out your front door and see the best of all colors You just got to go out there and find the best spots on your own.”

ycheng@dispatch.com

@ChengYilun