Kentucky Fall Colors Will Peak Slightly Later Than Last Year

If you woke up in western Kentucky this Saturday morning, you noticed that hint of Fall in the air. Just two weeks ago, we had temps topping out around 100 with plenty of humidity. The highs for this weekend? They will be in the low 70s. We are also seeing a bit of a drought in this area. I just found out a drought can affect the fall colors?!?

Yes, our state's peak fall colors map, is split into two parts. The northwestern part, which is where we are in the Tri-State will see the peak first, while in the southeast as you get into east Tennessee, the colors will peak about a week later.

So how does a drought play into all of this? The main factors are temperature and moisture. This is from the U.S. Forest Service:

" A late spring, or a severe summer drought, can delay the onset of fall color by a few weeks. A warm period during fall will also lower the intensity of autumn colors. A warm wet spring, favorable summer weather, and warm sunny fall days with cool nights should produce the most brilliant autumn colors."

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The color changes will be slightly delayed this year, but only by a week. As far as the current drought, western Kentucky is seeing both abnormally and moderately dry conditions. The only part of the state that is in a severe drought is in the far eastern counties of Boyd and Lawrence which both border West Virginia.

The fall color peak for those of us in western Kentucky and in southern Indiana will be the week of October 28th.