West said the leaf season depends on conditions staying sunny during the day, and nights staying crisp and cool – but without frost that kills the leaves.
“Here’s how it works: the bright sunlight burns off the green colors, and then those underlying yellow and orange hues start to really show through as the nights get longer and colder,” West said. “The factors that really can impact the aspens are frost, wind and those early mountain snows.”
The team at the Colorado Climate Center says early fall conditions are trending toward warm and dry, which bodes well for leaf season.
“It’s shaping up to be a wonderful year to go out for a drive or a bike ride or anything else where you get to enjoy the fall season,” West said.