(NEXSTAR) — It may be hard to believe, but autumn is slowly creeping up, bringing with it one of nature’s most stunning shows: the changing of the leaves. Those in nearly two dozen states may be in for an even more vibrant display of fall foliage, according to a new report. Two of the nation’s fall color hotspots, though, may not be as lucky.
Nationwide, our trees (at least those that have color-changing leaves) are getting the signals to start settling in for the winter — namely, the signal that the sunlight they’ve enjoyed since the summer solstice in June is waning. That loss of sunlight will only become more pronounced through September.
Another factor that can impact fall foliage is the amount of rain your area has or hasn’t received through the summer. Too much or too little rain can put stress on trees, impacting the colors the leaves become and how long they stick around, Brad Hutnik, a forest ecologist/silviculturist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources previously told Nexstar .