Newswise — The outlook for better than average fall color in Western Virginia has improved dramatically in recent days, thanks to much needed rainfall followed by abundant sunshine. Virginia Tech tree physiology expert John Seiler says things are looking up for vibrant fall colors in the Virginia mountains.
Some trees are dropping their leaves early, but in almost all cases it is limited to those predisposed to stress, mostly in urban areas.
“Rainfall in the past two weeks has enhanced our chances for the most vivid colors,” said Seiler. “Bright sunshine and length of daylight is also key to enhancing the most brilliant splashes of reds and yellows.”
Seiler says predicting fall color peak dates is an inexact science.
“It’s impossible to plug in temperatures, rainfall, and tree species and get a time for peak viewing,” says Seiler. “Dry weather in August and September has the effect of desynchronizing the process. That’s the reason many already see trees turning yellow and losing their leaves early.”
Virginia forests offer a greater mix of trees, compared to other areas of the country, leading to a wider diversity of color once the leaves do begin to turn. For this year, Seiler projects a possible peak weekend of October 22-23, but warns that can vary by as much as seven days, plus or minus, depending on a variety of conditions.
John Seiler Professor Seiler specializes in environmental stress effects on woody plant physiology, including water and pollutant stresses. He is quoted regularly in broadcast and print publications due to his expertise in tree physiology. Seiler is the Honorable and Mrs. Shelton H. Short Professor of Forestry at Virginia Tech, and was named an Alumni Distinguished Professor in recognition of his extraordinary academic citizenship and distinguished service within the Virginia Tech community.
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