As I've gotten older, the month of October has shot up to the top of my list for favorite months.

There are many reasons for that.... cool mornings, pleasant afternoons, the shadows getting longer, the smell of fireplace smoke in the evening air, pumpkins, etc. 

What You Need To Know

  • As chlorophyll breaks down in the fall, leaves change colors

  • Weather plays an important role in how vibrant the foliage becomes

  • Heavy rain in the growing season or a frost/freeze can mute the colors

However, what is potentially the biggest reason I love October is fall foliage.

Without getting too technical, fall foliage appears as chlorophyll (the pigment responsible for the green color) vacates the leaves, allowing other colors to shine through. This results in a gorgeous display of all sorts of colors.

One of the things that makes fall foliage so beautiful and special is that every season features a somewhat different display.

Some seasons have lots of brilliant, varying colors. Other seasons have more muted colors. Some seasons feature more golden browns, some are shorter, some longer..... you get it.

Every season is different.

But what are the weather factors the influence the fall foliage display?

Many people consider the 'best' fall foliage displays to be the ones that feature lots of brilliant colors.... oranges, reds, and yellows. To get the brightest, most vibrant colors, you typically need:

  • moist early-to-mid growing season
  • dry late summer and early fall
  • cool nights (but not in the frost/ freeze range)
  • warm days filled with lots of sunshine

Lots of rain late in the growing season often leads to more muted colors. An early frost or freeze can kill leaves sooner, shortening the display.

A large amount of wind can blow a considerable amount of the leaves off the trees.

However your fall foliage season ends up..... enjoy! It's one of the many treats we get to enjoy this time of year.