Most of Minnesota still waiting for fall colors to arrive

With Labor Day weekend in the review mirror, Minnesotans are looking towards the coming weeks and mapping out their fall activities all while keeping COVID-19 in mind. 

One activity bound to top fall "to-do" list is taking in the changing leaves across Minnesota's state parks and forests. Even with the COVID-19 pandemic, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources expects September and October to be a busy one outside.

"People are just itching to get out," said Val Cervenka, a forest entomologist with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. "Normally in the fall we can expect up to 900,000 visitors in September and October. I don't expect that to change this year."

The Great Minnesota Outdoor Adventure continues year-round. Next up: fall colors! The bright gold and red of the changing leaves are a must-see. Sign up for fall color alerts: https://t.co/qDrToV9uZj #MNGreatOutdoors pic.twitter.com/NvvB8PVMBH

Those hoping to get a jumpstart on the fall color viewing will have to head north to Zippel Bay State Park in Woods County, Minnesota.

"The color changes begins where it's coldest," Cervenka said. "Grand Rapids could start to see some early color change as well with some frosty temperatures reported there as well."

Leaves remain relatively unchanged across the Twin Cities. While some metro leaves may start to turn in early September, it is not likely because of the fall season.

"Trees can show signs of stress by changing leaf color and a lot of our urban street trees are under a great deal of stress, even if we don't see it," said Cervenka said.

A lack of water and roots constantly being driven over by busy metro traffic provide a source of stress for the trees. Fall colors outside the metro may also see a delay due to drought.

"Cook County and parts of western Minnesota, along with southeast Minnesota, have pockets of dryness, but with more rainfall, local conditions can change that color right away," Cervenka said. "It's not just what the tree has experienced throughout they, but what happens in the next couple of weeks."

Still, the best bet for viewing fall leaves will come late September to mid-October as the state sees more sunshine and cooler temperatures.

"As the weather starts to get cooler, you will start to see the yellow appear in the leaves as the chlorophyll breaks down and reveals that yellow," she said. "With the sunny days and cool nights, the sugar is produced in leaves to make that red and dark orange color."

The Minnesota DNR has started updating its Fall Color Finder. The map gives Minnesotans and outside visitors a road map for where to find the peak fall colors across the state. 

Information is updated every week as state parks call in each Thursday to let the DNR know where leaves are turning.