Fall is a great time of year to enjoy the outdoors in Northern Nevada. Not only because of the weather, but also because of the beautiful fall colors. We don’t have a ton of trees, but those we do have really stand out next to the mountains. It’s interesting how everything works together for leaves to change. According to the US Forest Service, the sun angle and weather plays a huge role in leaves changing colors. During the growing season leaves are green from chlorophyll. Chlorophyll not only gives leaves their green color, but it is also key in photosynthesis. The sun angle lowers during the fall season, this signals trees to prepare for winter and stop the production of chlorophyll. As the chlorophyll breaks a part, vibrant reds, yellows, and oranges are revealed underneath it.
The weather can either mute or delay the production of fall colors. The amount of moisture and temperature is key as to how vibrant the leaves can be. A dry and warm fall will delay the change in color and can even make the leaves look brown. More moisture can make the leaves brighter. Cool crisp mornings can speed up the process. After a warm, dry summer, our leaves were pretty thirsty and it showed. The Sierra will peak before the valley because of their colder climate.
A strong cold front moved through the region early Monday morning, bringing moisture and cooler air along with it. This may have ignited the current change in color, making the leaves more vibrant too. The rain and snow provided moisture for our parched vegetation, and the cool air signals a change in season. We’ve had some cold mornings and cool/mild afternoons lately, which is great for fall colors. While the weather does play a role in the change of color, the difference in sun angle is what really allows the leaves to change.Â
It's going to be a great weekend to enjoy the outdoors. Temperatures will be in the 70’s and skies will be clear on Saturday, but a system will move through the region late Sunday into Monday. It will be breezy on Sunday, but valley temperatures will still be in the upper 60’s. Sunday won’t be terrible, but it won’t be as nice as Saturday either. Have a great weekend and enjoy the fall colors.
