Summer Conditions Lead to a Dull Fall for Missouri

Intro:	Vibrant colored leaves won't fill Missouri's forests this fall. Breana Jones has more from Jefferson City.
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Wrap: Ideal fall weather won't help Central Missouri foliage this year. The region will be seeing lackluster leaves after experiencing a dry summer.

University of Missouri Forestry Professor Hank Stelzer says the sunny days and cool, crisp nights would normally lead to bright colors, but the drought will prevent them.

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Description: "The mid-summer, late summer drought is gonna kind of dull the colors, it has the potential. It just didn't allow for a lot of sugar production in the leaves or pigment production."

The Department of Conservation still encourages Missourians to get out and see the fall foliage and offers regional routes on its website.

Reporting from the state capitol, Breana Jones.

Intro:	One of Missouri's most abundant trees will be colorless this fall. Breana Jones has more from Jefferson City.
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Wrap: The White Oak tree's gold foliage will be absent this fall in Missouri.

White oaks ranging from Springfield to St. Louis were turned brown this summer from two different diseases and will remain so throughout the fall.

Conservation Department Forestry Director Justine Gartner says a mix of weather conditions led to a fungus disease in Missouri White Oaks.

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Description: "The fungus itself is not alarming, it's just a one-time deal, but it will affect the fall color for those particular trees. So whether or not you get good bright color really depends on the weather. For sure, though, the white oak trees that are out there are not going to be pretty at all this year."

The White Oaks were also plagued by jumping oak gall.

White oaks and hickory trees constitute three-quarters of Missouri forests.

Reporting from the capitol, Breana Jones.

Intro:	One hue will be missing in Missouri foliage this fall during the peak time for autumn's leaves. Breana Jones has more from the Jefferson City.
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Wrap: Fall foliage is beginning to show its autumn colors in some parts of Missouri, but the most vibrant colors have yet to appear.

University of Missouri Forestry Professor Hank Stelzer says the peak time for bright fall leaves will be during the end of September into mid-October.

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Description: "We really won't see the colors change until we get a good frost, a good hard frost, something where tempertures get down into the mid, upper thirties."

One color will be missing from Missouri fall foliage.

Summer diseases plagued the White Oak,and its noticeable golden leaves won't make an appearance this autumn.

Reporting from the capitol, Breana Jones.