I don't know what in the world is going on!? A few days ago yeah there was a leaf here and a leaf there that were changing color. Now the trees are changing at like…hyper-speed? And it's not even a drought induced change. The trees look healthier than ever and theyre turning orange, yellow, and red!!?? This is so strange! But exciting at the same time. lol. There's a tree on Main St. that is almost completely yellow! I can see it shine brightly from my backyard. And there are many others that are rushing into their fall colors. Very odd for SE Va.
Thoughts?
I'll have pics up sometime this weekend I hope. My mom said on the backroads going to Surry, VA that many trees are changing. I suppose it's strange because its only September 2nd. The colours don't usually get going this good for another 2-3 weeks! 
Same for the pnw
That is amazing man! I can't wait to see the pics.
We have had quite a bit of early change here in West Arkansas as well, I would say about 5 percent of the trees have started changing, which is a lot considering our peak is the last week of October.
Our peak is the last week of October through the first week of November so this is very strange but awesome!
Neat! Other than some drought-induced change, I have seen below-average color for this time of year. Hopefully we'll get a lot of rain tomorrow night to help save fall foliage season!
And to top it off we just saw one of the big “fall” spiders outside in a high-up web. They are those big black and orangey-brown spiders that make the big webs high-up. They say when the finally move outside that Fall is near.
The reasons for the rapid tree change in the east was the very hot summer, the trees pollinated early, and the conststant heat and humidity has the insects working overtime. The fact that the summer was not a dry one has the leaves turning early, most hot summers tend to do this.
The leaves are falling fast and furious here too. In fact, the tulip poplars (the big ones) are 70% yellow. Leaf blowing has been a weekly shore for me.
The first snow here is only 2 months away, although this year will be below avg here, probably only 70-90″.
Same here in good ol' SW Connecticut?!
Hm. Interesting. It's still awesome to see. Especially for a fan of Fall Foliage like me.
Our first snow on avg. wuld be 3 months away. However, if we get a quick, early burst of winter before January then we could see flurries or a snow shower in late November similar to 08-09.
That year it wasn't even forecast to snow on November 22nd and we picked up 2″. 
Wow, thats very rare for SE VA, I hope you get lucky this November before…… (Ya I sound like a broken record)
Who knows what can happen though, ladt winter was a prime example for me to learn how crazy things can get
Yes, I was spoiled silly last winter. Had about 300″ here (avg is 126″), the snow kept going for 22 straight days for a time, and I didn't see any sun from DEC 12th thry MAR 15th. Being 3100ft up, it helps
The Pile in front of my driveway ended updrifting over my roof, and I had to call guys to remove the snow pile. Snowcover lasted until May.
It was the snowiest winter on record here at McHenry MD
Yeah, that's one thing that gets me. Everyone says the east doesn't deserve the snow because they had record snowfall last winter blah, blah, blah. FALSE! South of DC and east of the Apps Winter was fantastic believe me! But sadly, not record breaking. Not even close. lol. In order for places like Norfolk to break a record theyd have to see over 45″ of snow. Some winter back in the 1940's set the bar and it set it very high for SE Va. lol.
08-09 sure was a weird one though. A brief mix of rain, sleet, and snow with the Nor'Easter on October 29th, 2008. Flurries on November 18th…2″ mini-snowstorm on November 22nd. Then it poured rain all December long. A light snow in January, a light snow around Valentines Day, and then a 3″ mini-snowstorm in early March. lol. 
Not enough water combined with the heat will be the biggest reason.
Drought induced change results only in yellow and brown leaves as well as burn spots. Which none of these trees show. To top it off, our water table has returned to normal thanks to the closure of a paper plant in Franklin, VA earlier this year. I'm tellin' ya these trees are very healthy in their newfound colour.
I hope your right, I love fall, and the cool crisp weather. I think it maybe the start to a rollercoaster ride that will last til March. One with lots of snow hopefully !!!!
Interstatelover, where in SW CT are you? I am also in SW CT.
Amy
Leaves are changeing here in S.C. as well. Its wild.
Its all good dude
I'd prefer we folks in the east get more cold and snow, however, I cant let my bias mess up my forecasts.
PS, where did you get your snowfall record Data From? thanks
No leaves are really changing here in northern Minnesota, and our fall color peak is the 3rd week of September. The only thing I'm seeing is on one particular species, most of the younger trees have had their leaves turn a bronze-ish color and fall off. Some older trees are fine. I don't think it's disease (they're large-toothed aspen) because whatever disease would almost definitely also affect the quaking aspen that they grow together with. The quaking aspen are green as ever and very healthy… but hte large toothed aspen look very sad.
I think it's probably all the rain we've had this summer. They tend to grow in wet places, but don't like having their roots submerged in water. In mid August we got over 3″ of rain in one night and many of those wetter locations became swamped.
Still, there are probably sugar maples out there turning. I hear the same thing every year “Oh noes! The leaves are changing early.. it's going to be a terrible winter!” Not true. Some trees just change early. Drought can play a part, as can being too wet. Temperature is not a large factor unless you're getting unseasonable frosts and freezes. They do play a role in the vibrancy of the colors.. but not the actual time of change. I remember in September of 1999, people said the trees were changing early and the deer were getting their winter coats early, and that it was gonna be a harsh winter. 1999/2000 was our warmest Nov.-Mar. period in the past 100 years here.
the alot of rain thing might be whats up down here too. sc has been pretty wet in my opinion.
An excess of cloudy weather in August can trigger some early change in leaves as well. Hasn't been an issue here… sunny almost every day.
wjp, last year was very cloudy here too. We just didn't get the snow to go with it. Very depressing actually…
Love how this disappeared into the forum pages of no return. lol. I've seen a few more trees changing today.