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PRINTDull Fall Foliage – the Climate?
Over the weekend one national network news reported on the rather dull foliage colors this year. Before it was over global warming was ending all future colors as we know it. Maybe? I’ll be the first to admit that we had a “disappointing” foliage in New England but I blame the drier conditions and lack of a sustained cold spell. We stick have an array of colors but compared the the best years…. it just isn’t. It has dipped into the 30s and there has been snow in the mountains. But, for the vibrant colors we need two things. The first is plenty of rain during the summer and the other is cold.
Colors come out when the chlorophyll that provides the green (the dominant color) all summer starts to break down. This happens when we have shorter days and cooler nights which tells the trees to shut off the flow of nutrients to their leaves. We have not had the usual cold night temperatures to make this happen and in some cases the leaves are dropping with changing color.
We have a foliage guide in the 2008 Farmers’ Almanac – best viewing times for all regions of the country. If you have a photo of your foliage, send it along. While it has been less vibrant , there is still some good viewing.
Technorati Tags:
foliage, global warming, temperatures, best viewing times
Peter Geiger is the Editor of the Farmers' Almanac. Read his full biography here.Free Weekly eNewsletter
Farmers' Almanac Long Range Weather
February 8th - February 11th
- Northeast U.S.
Wet snow mixed with rain Mid-Atlantic north through New England; slushy accumulations of 4+" possible.
- Midwest/Great Lakes U.S.
Accumulating snows Kentucky, Ohio, then clearing. Fair elsewhere.
- Southeast U.S.
Wet snow Tennessee, western North Carolina; wintry mix northern Mississippi, Alabama. Elsewhere, rain, then clearing.
- North Central U.S.
Drier, much colder.
- South Central U.S.
Snow parts of Arkansas, then clearing, cold. Clear, much colder elsewhere.
- Northwest U.S.
Drier, but colder.
- Southwest U.S.
Drier, but noticeably colder.
• View entire Long Range Weather Forecast »
• Farmers' Almanac 2011-12 Winter Outlook »
• View the Almanac Daily Planner »
If you notice a hole in the upper left-hand corner of your Farmers' Almanac, don't return it to the store! That hole isn't a defect; it's a part of history. Starting with the first edition of the Farmers' Almanac in 1818, readers used to nail holes into the corners to hang it up in their homes, barns, and outhouses (to provide both reading material and toilet paper). In 1910, the Almanac's publishers began pre-drilling holes in the corners to make it even easier for readers to keep all of that invaluable information (and paper) handy.