Fall colors will be on schedule, officials say

Illinois tree experts say the changing of the leaves should be on pace with past years.

Jay Hayek, Extension Forester for the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences said leaves start to peak from the first to third week of October in Northern Illinois, while Central and Southern Illinois peak in mid- to late-October.

Ed Hedborn, a plant records manager and color scout for Morton Arboretum in Lisle, said when most people think of fall color, they think of the sugar maple. These leaves turn orange and red and are on pace to peak in the second and third weeks of October. Illinois' state tree, the white oak, should turn its shade of wine purple slightly after that.

Hedborn said the recent high winds can contribute to how vibrant the display is. Hayek said cool nights followed by warm days are known to cause the most vibrant of leaf color.