Fall starts Sunday. When and where in Kansas leaf colors are changing

The autumn equinox is on Sunday at 7:43 a.m., when the sun’s rays will shine directly over the equator and the length of daytime and nighttime become equal.

As the days get shorter until the start of winter on Dec. 21, Kansas will see temperatures fall and tree foliage change color and drop. The change will be welcome for many, with 41% of adults choosing autumn as their favorite season, ahead of spring and summer at 24% and winter at 11%, according to Morning Consult polling.

What fall weather will look like in Kansas?

But it may not cool as much as some Topekans would like, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. It’s predicting that September will be about 1 degree warmer than average, and that there will be about 2.5 inches less precipitation in the month.

October is also expected to be about 2 degrees above average with about 1 inch less of expected rainfall. But the almanac also predicts an early season snow storm in early November in the North Central states, which includes Kansas.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac bases its predictions off a mathematical and astronomical formula and boasts that it’s about 80% accurate. However, critics say the accuracy is only slightly better than randomly generated forecasts.

Fall foliage forecast

Accuweather forecasts predict a sliver of eastern Kansas will see “vibrant” fall foliage. Most of Kansas, including Topeka, is expected to have “typical” fall foliage and the very westernmost part of the state is expected to have “dull” foliage this year.

More vibrant colors are a result of consistent rainfall throughout summer, as well as ample sunlight and cool nights during early autumn. That weather will expediate the breakdown of chlorophyll in leaves, dropping the green color to a medley of oranges, reds and yellows.

Accuweather predicts northeast Kansas will see peak foliage color in mid-October, while the rest of eastern Kansas will see the brightest colors during late October. Central Kansas will be the latest bloomer, not seeing peak foliage colors until early November.