Winterization Alert: Rocky Mountains

jkjenn

If you will be in or live near the Rocky Mountains, a major cold front is coming which is expected to plummet temperatures into the teens next week and brings snow, particularly on the east side of the continental divide. 

The Colorado and Montana plans appear to be expected to really see the precipitation and that will be a welcome relief after a week of fires, especially in Montana.

DougH

My neighbor says if there's enough of the fluffy stuff, it makes the aspens just drop their leaves instead of gradually turning colors over the course of 2-3 weeks.  Has that been your experience too?  I don't remember experiencing such a heavy snow in early September, and I'll be there next week after the storm rolls through.  Will it be pointless for leaf peeping?

jkjenn

DougH said:

My neighbor says if there's enough of the fluffy stuff, it makes the aspens just drop their leaves instead of gradually turning colors over the course of 2-3 weeks.  Has that been your experience too?  I don't remember experiencing such a heavy snow in early September, and I'll be there next week after the storm rolls through.  Will it be pointless for leaf peeping?

Wind is usually the real culprit. The impact of the wet heavy snow will probably be more determined on how far along the leaves are.

ontheroad

Our leaves in Ontario CA are already starting to turn...cooler nights and lack of rainfall....

DougH

Noooooooo...

https://theknow.denverpost.com/2020/09/08/colorado-fall-colors-leaf-peeping-freezing-temperatures/244972

jkjenn

DougH said:

Noooooooo...

https://theknow.denverpost.com/2020/09/08/colorado-fall-colors-leaf-peeping-freezing-temperatures/244972

I have been to Colorado in years severe drought and never noticed much of a difference in color. The fungus is a bigger issue and wind. I think for most spots, the snow hit early enough that is should not make a huge difference, but I could be wrong.

b407driver

Early hard freezes like the one expected tonight often results in aspens turning brown and then dropping their leaves with the next wind event. We can hope, but after this spring's late hard-freeze, many trees are already in a state of stress, and that's ignoring the sustained drought conditions and the long string of 90+ days we've had. :(