Despite the hot and dry summer, much of the Southern Appalachian Mountains should still offer gorgeous fall hues in the weeks ahead. With the official start of fall just days away, many are looking forward to seeing the season make its mark on the local landscape. To help the region prepare for what’s in store, ETSU officials will be releasing weekly predictions on fall color–and the first report is in.
“We live in an absolutely stunning area, with beautiful and diverse trees and vegetation,” said Travis Watson, ETSU’s campus arborist, in a press release. “Our hope is that this weekly update will help the public enjoy the breathtaking beauty of our region even more.” ETSU Campus Arborist Travis Watson will be working with Tennessee State Climatologist Andrew Joyner to release weekly predictions on the region's fall color.
Watson, who holds a master’s degree in biology from ETSU, will be working with Andrew Joyner, Tennessee’s official climatologist and an associate professor in ETSU's department of geosciences. Together, Watson and Joyner will study historical data, long-range weather forecasts and more to form predictions, and will be sharing thoughts on a variety of topics, including how recent weather–temperature, precipitation and storms–affects fall hues. “From drought conditions to unusually hot temperatures, weather plays a major role, sometimes increasing the vibrancy of autumn color or playing spoiler for those who enjoy leaf peeping,” Joyne.