COLUMBIA, S.C. — It's that time of the year when trees begin to show off with vibrant colors right before the end of Fall. In the Midlands, reports of leaves changing color have begun, especially in the northern Midlands when looking at these graphics from ExploreFall.com. Peak color is still a few weeks away, but this natural art display occurs every year right on schedule.
Leaves get their green color from chlorophyll, a chemical that helps them breathe Carbon Dioxide. In the Fall, shorter days, and cooler temperatures cause this Chlorophyll to diminish in the leaves.
In each leaf are other pigments or colors and when the Chlorophyll is gone these colors come out for everyone to see.
Yellow is Xanthophyll, Orange is Carotene, Red is Anthocyanin, and Brown normally lacks any of these pigments.
With cooler weather continuing this week, fall color is likely to become more widespread across the region. Forecasts right now call for almost all of the State to be in low color with more widespread color in the mountains in the next week.
Peak color is still likely a few weeks away here in the Midlands. We are likely running somewhat behind our normal peak of early November thanks to a warmer start to the Fall season.
