FALL COLORS: DNR Fall Leaves Forecast

Fall officially begins Saturday which means we’ll soon see brilliant fall colors.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says some of the leaves in far northwest Iowa are already beginning to pop. The central part of the state will begin to change in mid-October and colors in southern Iowa will turn towards the end of next month.

The DNR says recent rain should make for a colorful fall but you probably won’t see as much yellow this year.

“With the summer heat we saw some early drought stress some of those trees that would normally turn their leaves yellow early on like cottonwood, walnut, some of the ashes have already actually started to drop their leaves and so they’re kinda gonna miss that fall color with those trees, they’re not going to have as much of that yellow color. Some of those trees that typically turn later like the oaks and maples where you get more of the reds, the oranges — those should have pretty good color,” says Jeff Goerndt with the DNR.

The Iowa DNR has a fall leaves hotline. The number is 515-233-4110.