Journal-News.com

Expect vibrant colors this fall because of moderate summer weather, the state's fall color expert said Monday, Sept. 29.

That's in contrast to a lackluster fall color season last year hampered by a drought, said Casey Munchel, a Ohio Department of Natural Resources' Division of Forestry forester based in Lebanon.

"Last year wasn't impressive," Munchel said. "This year, I'm expecting things to be vibrant and on time. Weather has been moderate over the summer months. The bright sunny days and the nights have been staying above freezing through September. That sets it up for the vibrant colors."

Munchel divides the state into thirds to figure out peak color.

Northern Ohio should hit its peak in the first weeks of October, Mid-Ohio and the Dayton region during the middle of the month, and southern Ohio in late October.

Within driving distance to Dayton, reports show changing colors at:

• Hueston Woods State Park and State Nature Preserve in Preble County.

• Caesar Creek State Park and State Nature Preserve in Warren County.

• Kiser Lake State Park in Champaign County.

• Sycamore State Park in Montgomery County.

• John Bryan State Park/Clifton Gorge Nature Preserve in Greene County.

• Indian Lake State Park in Logan County.

• Buck Creek State Park in Clark County.

"Most parts of the state are starting to notice the first hints of fall color with yellows and oranges being reported and spots of red in the landscape showing," said Munchel.

"Buckeye trees are turning yellow, and blackgum trees and sumac are starting to show bright red in the north along with poison ivy and Virginia creeper vines."

Most ODNR facilities are reporting 10 to 20 percent color in the woods this week.

Munchel noted that most of the spotty color is on stressed-out trees from the Sept. 14 windstorm. Cooler nights should speed the onset of good fall color and add variety to the landscape in coming days, she said.

For ongoing color updates see www.dnr.state.oh.us/ on the Web.