Fall’s slow start: How weather shapes Minnesota’s autumn color show

Minnesota’s fall colors are running late this year — and the weather is to blame. U of M Extension forestry educator Kira Pollack explains how a warm September delayed the state’s peak color season and what conditions create the most vibrant displays. She breaks down the science behind the shifting shades — from how chlorophyll fades to reveal hidden pigments, to why sunny days and cool nights make the trees pop with reds, oranges, and golds.