The heavy rains that have nearly eliminated the drought in Missouri may reap another benefit in a few months – better fall foliage.
State Climatologist Zach Leasor described the last two falls in Missouri as “kind of a bust.”
“A lot of that was due to drought stress on a lot of vegetation,” Leasor told Missourinet. “Around Columbia, by September (2023), we had some trees that were yellowing, and their leaves were yellowing, and it wasn’t because of the temperatures – it was some of that drought stress.”
He also classified Missouri’s current amount of moisture as “really abundant.”
“Not just in measured rainfall,” he said. “We measure things like soil moisture and look at our water levels on streams and rivers, and in most spots there’s plenty of water right now. And so, this means our vegetation is healthy here as well.”
Leasor said the timing of cooler temperatures will also play a role in whether Missouri has a spectacular autumn leaf show.
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