Fall temperatures are finally starting to make their way to Dallas-Fort Worth, and with that comes the changing of leaves.
The brilliant fall foliage displays in the northern parts of the U.S. are almost past their prime, but in North Texas the action is only just beginning. Tree experts said they usually start keeping an eye on the leaves in late October, with peak color expected to arrive by mid-November.
The exact arrival of fall color varies based on weather patterns, specifically rain totals and when North Texas experiences the arrival of chilly overnight lows. Brett Johnson, a conservation manager with Dallas Park and Recreation, said the area tends to get the most dramatic color showing in years with big temperature swings between the overnight lows and afternoon highs.
“When you start seeing those mornings in the forecast where we’re going to start dipping into the 50s, that’s when I’d start watching,” he said.
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Leaves change color as trees start to go dormant for the winter. Production of chlorophyll, the green pigment that’s part of photosynthesis, decreases in leaves, allowing other pigments to become more visible. A significant temperature change can help degrade chlorophyll more quickly, giving the trees longer to display their other pigments.
Fall rain can help prevent trees from shedding their leaves faster due to drought, which can often result in a “lackluster” showing. Dallas-Fort Worth is significantly behind on autumnal rain — over 3 inches below normal — meaning this year’s leaves could be less bright.
If you’re hunting for color around Dallas, Johnson recommends visiting Cedar Ridge Preserve and Cedar Hill State Park, Keeton Golf Course and the grounds around White Rock Lake and the Dallas Arboretum. He also said the Scyene Overlook can be a great spot to take in the Great Trinity Forest from above.
For a weekend trip to go leaf peeping, Alison Fulton with the Texas A&M Forest Service recommended checking out Lost Maples State Natural Area in the Hill Country. She also recommended checking out the bald cypresses along the Guadalupe and Comal rivers in that area.
Fulton also recommended keeping an eye out for red oak trees, since the species is common in North Texas. They get their name from their bright red leaves in the fall. Residents can first identify an oak tree by whether it’s been dropping acorns recently, Fulton said, before zeroing in on the leaf tips. She said red oaks have bristle tips, or tiny hairs, that are “almost like an eyelash” on the leaf points.
To see when your county is forecasted to hit peak leaf color, check out the map below: