Are We Getting an Early Winter or Is My Clock Off Kilter

[roberth]

I was on Jones Pass last Thursday (August 30th) and some of the Aspen are turning already. It seems early but it might be normal.

[funkymonkey1111]

i read an article that said the drought would likely alter the leaf turn

[roberth]

i read an article that said the drought would likely alter the leaf turn

Oh ok, I'll look for that. It is very dry up there in spite of recent rains.

I found this article.

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/31386810/detail.html


ASPEN, Colo. -- Leaves from Rocky Mountain National Park to Silverton started turning yellow in mid-August this year. Chris Forman, Aspen's city forester, says the yellow leaves could indicate stressed trees and could mean an early and shorter color season.

[funkymonkey1111]

yeah, that was it. i've already noticed leaf drop here in denver in places-nothing too crazy, but they are droping off some trees

[whichfinger]

The drought has stressed the trees and early leaf shedding is one result. We have a purple mountain ash in the yard and its been dropping leaves for a couple of weeks.

[ridgewalker]

According to the weather service we should have an El Nino winter with more snow than normal. Guess I'd better get a snow blower before they run out [ROFL1].

Channel 7 News a couple of nights ago said the colors were changing 1-2 weeks early this year probably due to the drought.

[funkymonkey1111]

farmer's alamanac says dry and mild winter

http://www.farmersalmanac.com/weather/2012/08/26/will-winter-return-with-a-vengeance/

[soldier-of-the-apocalypse]

same thing up 285 through kenosha pass

[ridgewalker]

FunkyMonkey, this looks like snow the first week of Oct and stormy until then? This just came out last week according to the website.

http://www.farmersalmanac.com/weather/2012/09/03/will-autumn-bring-relief/

Not that I trust any weather man. If I had been wrong as much as they seem to be, I would have been fired many times.[ROFL3]

[Heep72]

yeah, that was it. i've already noticed leaf drop here in denver in places-nothing too crazy, but they are droping off some trees

Thats funny because just the other day I said something to the wife because a tree in the neighborhood was dropping leaves and turning colors.

[colorider]

Kanosha pass looks like the aspen leaves are just going to die , not turn colors this year.

[blackford76]

Kanosha pass looks like the aspen leaves are just going to die , not turn colors this year.

I sure hope so, leaf lookers are a PITA.

[rondog]

Saw some colors up around Estes Park this weekend.

Didn't see ANY elk in town this year, which is unusual, so it's still pretty warm up there. We only had a fire in the cabin for one night out of three.

[blackford76]

I agree that the hot dry weather can make the leaves drop early, but my cousin noticed her horses are starting to get their winter coats, and the coyote I got on Sunday sure had a nice fluffy coat.

[clark]

I did some reading on this a long time ago and found out that most plants especially aspens turning have to do with shortened daylight more than anything, though water and drought also play into the colors but shortened daylight hours play a key role.

[Mtn.man]

Where is KANOSHA?

Hey BFord what up?

[Irving]

I've noticed some trees in people's yards where the leaves are turning yellow and dropping. I think the drought must be correct, because MY tree isn't turning or dropping yet, and we've watered 7 days a week until this month. Those trees I'm seeing changing are in dead yards as well.

[10x]

I was on Hoosier Pass south of Breckenridge August 27. It was snowing and sleeting. 39 degrees. Yes, I think early winter, but light snow.

[Bailey Guns]

The aspens in our yard started changing around mid-August. It looks like late Sep around here.