USA Today speaks with Day about delay of fall foliage season
Michael Day, an associate research professor of tree physiology and physiological ecology at the University of Maine, spoke with USA Today for the article, “Fall foliage season delayed by record warmth.” One of the warmest Septembers on record is delaying fall foliage in many parts of the country, according to the article. Vibrant fall colors occur when three factors come together: the days get shorter, dry weather prevails and the temperature drops, Day said, adding that all that’s left in the Northeast is a cool snap. “To be honest, global warming has ‘confused’ trees in recent years, as has lower predictability of late-summer dry spells,” Day said. Even with the delay, Day said he predicts an “above-average foliage display” in Maine this year.