Gloomy weather dampens Minnesota's usually vibrant fall colors

(KMSP) - It's hard to beat the look of fall colors in Minnesota, but this recent stretch of weather could be putting those picture-perfect scenes in jeopardy.

Wet and gloomy is possibly the worst weather for fall colors, as the key ingredient to vibrant hues is something we haven't seen much of recently-- the sun.

“We should have much more color by now," said Alan Branhagen, Director of Operations at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.

With lots of greens and browns still dotting the landscape, experts say this long stretch of gloomy weather is largely to blame for the lackluster colors. 

“These are not ideal conditions for the best fall colors…60-degrees during the day would be perfect with sunny conditions, then getting cool and crisp at night," Branhagen said

At the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, it's a little more colorful than your backyard, but Branhagen is hoping this weather doesn't continue putting a damper on their busiest month.

“Hopefully it’s just going to be delayed,” he said. “If we don’t get the really big freeze, some of these that are green are just going to be delayed.”