September 25th, 2024 by WCBC Radio

Many of Maryland’s trees are changing color earlier than usual this year due to drought. Marylanders can also expect to see more yellow and gold tones, and fewer reds and purples. 

Forester Melissa Nash in Garrett County says leaves are two weeks ahead of schedule in Maryland’s westernmost jurisdiction, which is experiencing extreme drought.

The most brilliant leaf displays follow a period of warm, sunny days and cool nights. Leaves produce an abundance of sugars during the sunny days. The cooler nights and gradual narrowing of leaf veins in the fall mean that a majority of the sugars produced are trapped in the leaf.