While an extended stretch of warm weather will continue deeper into September, hints of the impending autumn season will soon turn into the annual changing of the leaves.

Professor of Biology at Central College Paul Weihe says for the first time in five years, there is no significant drought impacting the area. He says with trees that are less stressed, it should produce a stronger overall season for viewing.

“I’m really delighted that across Iowa, we have near normal moisture,” he says. “After several years of drought, conditions are much better and I think will affect our trees and our other crops and plants around us. That drought was prolonged and unfortunate, but now we’re back.”

According to the Iowa DNR, the fall leaves tend to be at their peak in mid-October locally.