ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - Fall officially arrived on Monday, but the bright orange, red and yellow leaves will be coming a little later than normal this year.
AccuWeather meteorologist Max Vido says it's due to the large amount of rain that hit in the early part of summer, combined with a lot of dry weather in late summer. Usually, the peak fall colors seen inside Forest Park, wineries in Augusta, Mo., and along the Great River Road in Illinois happen in mid-October, but this year they'll come later. Vido believes it will happen in early November this year.
But how bright will those colors be?
"If it stays as dry as it has been (the leaves color) may be on the duller side," Vido says. "However, if we do get a few of those precipitation events coming in, restrengthening that root system and trees, I think we'll be alright in terms of vibrancy."
It also sounds like you'll be able to put off raking leaves for a bit longer because Vido says the leaves won't fall as quickly. He expects the trees to hold onto their leaves for a while.