Fall colors in NE Iowa might not be as vibrant this season

It turns out that you're not the only one who doesn't like cloudy and rainy weather.

This year's fall color display in NE Iowa could be a little more muted than normal because of the rainy weather the area has been having.

The tree species that are capable of producing good fall color like it when days in early fall are sunny and mild and nights are cool but remain above freezing.

The trees don't like it as much when there are long periods of cloudy, rainy weather in early fall or a hard freeze in early fall.  In cases like that, the fall color displays are more muted.

The latest leaf report from the Iowa DNR says virginia creeper and sumac are vibrant right now, while some maples are starting to turn yellow and orange.  Walnut, elm, cottonwood, basswood and ash are all turning yellow and dropping their leaves.

The DNR provides a weekly fall color report each Monday afternoon. Updates are available by calling the DNR fall color hotline at (515) 233-4110 and online at www.iowadnr.gov/fallcolor or you can have the report sent directly to your email by subscribing to the Iowa Fall Colors weekly report at the same webpage.