When will leaves change in Missouri this fall? Map predicts when areas are most vibrant

Pumpkin spice lattes are back in stores and our calendars just flipped to September — autumn is on its way, bringing with it the promise of vibrant fall foliage.

So when can Missourians expect to start seeing those beautiful autumn colors?

Sooner than you might think.

Leaves are expected to start changing in the northern part of the state at the end of September, with the Show Me State hitting its leaf-peeping peak between Oct. 26 and Nov. 2, according to Smoky Mountains Fall Foliage Prediction Map, which forecasts when leaves will change across the country.

The northern half of Missouri will be a step ahead of the rest of the state throughout the season. It’s expected to start seeing minimal changes in leaf color around Sept. 28, with the southern part of the state experiencing transformation in leaf color the following week, according to the map.

Leaves will continue to become more vivid over the following weeks until the northern portion of the state hits its peak the week of Oct. 26, the map shows.

The southern half of Missouri is expected to be “near-peak” the same week, with leaves becoming the most vibrant around Nov. 2.

From there, the state will start to move past-peak, as leaves begin to turn brown.

While the site warns that it’s impossible to be 100% accurate, it say it aims to give people the best shot at seeing trees at peak color each year.

Why do leaves change color during the fall?

Throughout spring and summer, leaves make most of the food a tree needs to grow. This process happens in leaf cells containing chlorophyll, which gives leaves their green color, according to the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

Due to changes in daylight and temperature during the fall, leaves stop making tree food and the chlorophyll starts to break down, revealing other pigments in the leaf.

These pigments, along with other chemical changes, determine a leaf’s color, the university reported.

Dogwoods and sumacs are often reddish or purple in color during the fall, while sugar maples turn bright orange. Other trees, such as oaks, sport more brownish hues, according to the university.

As the weather gets colder, trees close the veins that carry water and nutrients to its leaves with a layer of cells. This closes off the base of the leaf until it ultimately dies and falls to the ground, helping protect the tree and its limbs during frigid winters, SmokyMountains.com reported.

This story was originally published September 2, 2020 at 12:20 PM.