Drought, heat could lead to less vibrant Fall  (index.html)  (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/01/drought-heat-could-lead-less-vibrant-fall/?outputType=amp)                               (../../../../../webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/favicon.ico@d=596&mxId=00000000)  (../../../../../webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/favicon-16x16.png@d=596&mxId=00000000)  (../../../../../webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/favicon-32x32.png@d=596&mxId=00000000)  (../../../../../webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/favicon-48x48.png@d=596&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-57x57.png?d=596&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-60x60.png?d=596&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-72x72.png?d=596&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-76x76.png?d=596&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-114x114.png?d=596&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-120x120.png?d=596&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-144x144.png?d=596&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-152x152.png?d=596&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-167x167.png?d=596&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-180x180.png?d=596&mxId=00000000)    (../../../../pf/dist/components/output-types/default.css@d=596&mxId=00000000.css)  (../../../../pf/dist/components/combinations/default.css@d=596&mxId=00000000.css)  (../../../../pf/resources/dist/__global/css/style.css@d=596&mxId=00000000.css)  (../../../../pf/resources/dist/wtva/css/main.css@d=596&mxId=00000000.css)  (../../../../../cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/font-awesome/6.7.2/css/all.min.css)     (index.html#main) Skip to content (https://www.wtva.com/)        (https://www.wtva.com/)     (https://www.wtva.com/livestream) Watch Live  (https://www.wtva.com/news) News  (https://www.wtva.com/weather) Weather  (https://www.wtva.com/sports) Sports  (https://www.wtva.com/video-gallery/news) Videos  (https://www.wtva.com/about-us/contact-us) Contact Us              (https://www.wtva.com/homepage) Homepage   (https://www.wtva.com/livestream/) Watch Live   (https://www.wtva.com/news) News   (https://www.wtva.com/content/news/local/) Local   (https://www.wtva.com/content/news/mississippi) Mississippi   (https://www.wtva.com/content/news/alabama/) Alabama   (https://www.wtva.com/content/news/national/) National      (https://www.wtva.com/weather) Weather   (https://www.wtva.com/weather/alerts) Alerts   (https://www.wtva.com/weather/radar) Radar   (https://www.wtva.com/weather/maproom) Forecast Maps   (https://www.wtva.com/page/list-of-local-storm-shelters/) Storm Shelters   (https://www.wtva.com/community/user-content/) Submit Weather Pictures/Videos   (https://www.wtva.com/weather/closings) Closings   (https://weathercallservices.com/wtva-nexgen) WeatherCall   (https://www.wtva.com/weather/cams) Cameras   (https://www.wtva.com/weather/junior-weather-authority) Junior Weather Authority   (https://www.wtva.com/weather/elijah-experiments) Elijah Experiments      (https://www.wtva.com/sports) Sports   (https://www.wtva.com/content/sports/high-school/) High School   (https://www.wtva.com/sports/friday-night-fever) Friday Night Fever   (https://www.wtva.com/sports/scoreboard/) Friday Night Fever Scores   (https://www.wtva.com/content/sports/college) College   (https://www.wtva.com/content/sports/national) National   (https://www.wtva.com/2026/05/14/wtva-air-several-atlanta-braves-games-throughout-regular-season/) Atlanta Braves on WTVA      (https://www.wtva.com/page/download-our-apps/) Download WTVA Apps   (https://www.wtva.com/newsletter/) Receive Email Alerts   (https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/wtva/browse) Obituaries   (https://www.wtva.com/community) Community   (https://www.wtva.com/community/senior-fair) Senior Health Fair   (https://www.wtva.com/community/studio-9) Studio 9 with Tanya Carter   (https://www.wtva.com/2026/06/04/tickets-2026-tupelo-st-jude-dream-home-giveaway-go-sale-june-25/) Tupelo St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway   (https://www.wtva.com/video-gallery/community/johnny-stars) Johnny D. Talks to the Stars   (https://www.wtva.com/community/made-in-mississippi-americas-music) Mississippi Made: America’s Music   (https://www.wtva.com/community/ask-the-experts) Ask the Experts   (https://www.wtva.com/community/medical-minute) Medical Minute   (https://www.wtva.com/community/legally-speaking) Legally Speaking   (https://www.wtva.com/community/calendar) Community Calendar      (https://www.wtva.com/contests) Contests   (https://www.wtva.com/about-us/contact-us) Contact Us   (https://www.wtva.com/about-us/meet-the-team) Newsroom Bios   (https://www.wtva.com/page/advertise-with-us/) Advertise with WTVA   (https://graymedia.com/careers/#graymap) Job Openings   (https://www.wtva.com/page/wtva-noon-show-studio-9-interview-request/) Schedule Noon/Studio 9 Interview   (https://www.wtva.com/page/wtva-station-tours) Station Tours   (https://www.wtva.com/page/wtva-accepting-news-weather-and-sports-internships) Internships   (https://www.wtva.com/about-us) Station History      (https://www.wtva.com/programming/schedule) Programming Schedule   (https://www.wtva.com/page/nextgen) NextGen TV   (https://www.wtva.com/powernation) Powernation   (https://www.investigatetv.com/) InvestigateTV   (https://www.aginguntold.com/) Aging Untold   (https://www.wtva.com/watching-your-wallet) Watching Your Wallet   (https://www.localnewslive.com/news/national/) Local News Live   (https://graymedia.com/assets/pdf/Gray_AI_Policy.pdf) Gray AI Policy    (https://www.facebook.com/wtva9news)   (https://www.x.com/wtva9news)   (https://www.instagram.com/wtva9news)   (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGZ3rWmXAfs4iZi-Hr2Ahgg)   (https://www.tiktok.com/@wtva9news)             Drought, heat could lead to less vibrant Fall   (Trees across north Mississippi have begun changing colors weeks earlier than the typical...)   Trees across north Mississippi have begun changing colors weeks earlier than the typical mid-to-late October timeline. (WTVA)    By (https://www.wtva.com/authors/nick-pirozzi/) Nick Pirozzi    Published: Oct. 1, 2026 at 5:42 PM EDT | Updated: 31 minutes ago     Share     (https://google.com/preferences/source?q=https://www.wtva.com)  Add Us On Google Add as a preferred source on Google      TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA) – Trees across north Mississippi have begun changing colors weeks earlier than the typical mid-to-late October timeline. Peak color across the Mid-South is usually found during the middle parts of November. Warner Creekmore, with the Mississippi State University Ag Extension, said the early change is not a good sign for the fall foliage season. “This year it could be early. I mean it could be a disappointment for those that enjoy Fall color like I do,” Creekmore said.   Heat and lack of rain stressing trees  Creekmore said the early color change is tied to a lack of rain and sustained heat. “We haven’t had a rain in a month and a half, and the temperature is still in the 90s. It hasn’t cooled down, it hasn’t rained,” Creekmore said. This past September was the second warmest on record in Tupelo.   Twenty-four of the 30 days were above average, with 19 of those days having temperatures above 95 degrees. This is the sixth driest September of all time. The Tupelo area typically receives more than three and a half inches of rain for the month, but only received three tenths of an inch this year. The heat and lack of water are causing stress on the trees.   Many trees are having to shed their leaves prematurely because of the prolonged drought and heat wave of August and September. Some trees have developed leaf scorch, where the outside of the leaves have turned brown and crunchy. Others have had twig dieback, where the ends of branches have dried out and died. Smaller trees showing more damage  Because of the stress on the trees, fall colors may arrive earlier this year and may not be as vibrant as usual. Rain and a cool down are expected this weekend.   “I would hope that we might have a little fall color, but that’s not going to change anything. The damage is already done in my opinion,” Creekmore said. Portions of the southern Appalachians have also had a stretch of weather that has affected their fall colors.  Copyright 2026 WTVA. All rights reserved.            Most Read   (https://www.wtva.com/2026/09/30/17-year-old-accidentally-shot-killed/)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/09/30/17-year-old-accidentally-shot-killed/)   18-year-old accidentally shot, killed       (https://www.wtva.com/2026/09/30/joint-drug-bust-conducted-amory/) (Crash happened along Highway 95)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/09/30/joint-drug-bust-conducted-amory/)   Joint drug bust conducted in Amory       (https://www.wtva.com/2026/09/30/trump-administration-begin-sending-500-obamacare-refund-checks-see-who-qualifies/) (FILE -- President Donald Trump arrived at the White House on Sept. 23.)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/09/30/trump-administration-begin-sending-500-obamacare-refund-checks-see-who-qualifies/)   Trump administration to begin sending $500 Obamacare refund checks. See who qualifies        (https://www.wtva.com/2026/09/30/arrests-made-after-seizure-fentanyl-money/) (The Union County Sheriff's Office said Luis Javier Diaz is charged with trafficking fentanyl,...)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/09/30/arrests-made-after-seizure-fentanyl-money/)   Arrests made after seizure of fentanyl, money       (https://www.wtva.com/2026/09/30/tennessee-execution-christa-gail-pike-is-halted-by-court/) (This photo provided by the Tennessee Department of Correction shows Christa Pike on Jan. 12,...)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/09/30/tennessee-execution-christa-gail-pike-is-halted-by-court/)   Tennessee governor orders investigation after Christa Pike survives lethal injection attempt       (https://www.wtva.com/2026/09/30/firefighters-respond-fire-guntown-plant/) (Fire at West Fraser in Guntown, MS on Sept. 30, 2026)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/09/30/firefighters-respond-fire-guntown-plant/)   Firefighters respond to fire at Guntown plant       (https://www.wtva.com/2026/09/30/it-gave-me-my-life-back-advocates-condemn-misinformation-about-kratom-speak-ole-miss-student-deaths/) (Wednesday morning, the American Kratom Association held a press conference outside the...)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/09/30/it-gave-me-my-life-back-advocates-condemn-misinformation-about-kratom-speak-ole-miss-student-deaths/)   ‘It gave me my life back’: Advocates condemn misinformation about kratom, speak on Ole Miss student deaths       (https://www.wtva.com/2026/09/29/death-investigation-underway-after-man-dies-woman-injured-verona-shooting/) (Deadly shooting in Verona, MS on Sept. 29, 2026.)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/09/29/death-investigation-underway-after-man-dies-woman-injured-verona-shooting/)   Man dead, woman wounded in Verona shooting         Latest News   (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/01/two-arrested-over-sale-kratom/) (The Lee County Sheriff's Office reports two men were arrested over the sale of kratom products.)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/01/two-arrested-over-sale-kratom/) Two arrested over sale of kratom products       (https://www.wtva.com/gallery/2026/10/01/two-arrested-over-sale-kratom/) (The Lee County Sheriff's Office reports two men were arrested over the sale of kratom products.)      (https://www.wtva.com/gallery/2026/10/01/two-arrested-over-sale-kratom/) Two arrested over sale of kratom       (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/01/witnesses-describe-christa-pike-snoring-looking-around-during-botched-execution-attempt/) (This photo provided by the Tennessee Department of Correction shows Christa Pike on Jan. 12,...)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/01/witnesses-describe-christa-pike-snoring-looking-around-during-botched-execution-attempt/)   Witnesses describe Christa Pike ‘snoring’ and ‘looking around’ during botched execution attempt       (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/01/man-sentenced-manslaughter-cocaine-trafficking/) (Don C. Gilleylen was sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter and...)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/01/man-sentenced-manslaughter-cocaine-trafficking/) Man sentenced on manslaughter, cocaine trafficking       (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/01/court-finds-probable-cause-hand-down-federal-charges-against-oxford-vape-store-employees/) (Yahya Mosleh, 51, and Islam Mosleh, 18)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/01/court-finds-probable-cause-hand-down-federal-charges-against-oxford-vape-store-employees/)   Court finds probable cause to hand down federal charges against Oxford vape store employees       (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/01/interview-icc-choir-selected-perform-white-house-christmas-event/) (The White House invited the Itawamba Community College choir to perform this December.)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/01/interview-icc-choir-selected-perform-white-house-christmas-event/)   Interview: ICC choir selected to perform at White House Christmas event       (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/01/americans-are-using-buy-now-pay-later-more-than-ever-heres-what-know-if-youre-one-them/) (FILE - A woman walks by a sign "Buy now pay later" at a store in Bangalore, India, on Sept....)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/01/americans-are-using-buy-now-pay-later-more-than-ever-heres-what-know-if-youre-one-them/)   Americans are using buy now, pay later more than ever. Here’s what to know if you’re one of them                    (https://www.wtva.com/news) News  (https://www.wtva.com/about-us) Station History  (https://www.wtva.com/programming/schedule) Programming Schedule  (https://www.wtva.com/newsletter/) Receive Email Alerts  (https://www.wtva.com/news/national) National  (https://www.wtva.com/about-us/meet-the-team) Newsroom Bios  (https://www.wtva.com/news/aging-untold) Aging Untold  (https://www.wtva.com/community/user-content) User Content  (https://www.wtva.com/weather) Weather  (https://www.wtva.com/about-us/contact-us) Contact Us  (https://www.wtva.com/livestream/) Watch Live  (https://graymedia.com/careers/#graymap) Careers  (https://www.wtva.com/sports) Sports  (https://www.wtva.com/page/advertise-with-us/) Advertise With Us  (https://www.wtva.com/contests) Contests    WTVA 1359 Beech Springs Rd. Saltillo, MS 38866 (662) 842-7620        (https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/tv-profile/WTVA?id=74148) Public Inspection File  (https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/manager/download/44b0393b-6e1d-d077-2286-c4dce8204a03/e419083c-81a2-421f-8307-ef9e06a9d5cf.pdf) EEO Report  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gdm/fcc/wtva-fcc_applications.pdf) FCC Applications  (https://www.wtva.com/page/closed-captioning/) Closed Captioning/Audio Description  (https://www.wtva.com/terms-of-service/) Terms of Service  (https://www.wtva.com/privacy-policy/) Privacy Policy  (mailto:traffic@wtva.com) Traffic Contact Email  (tel:662-842-7620) 662-842-7620  (https://www.wtva.com/advertising) Advertising    (https://gray.tv/uploads/documents/Gray-AI-Policy.pdf) Click here to learn more about our approach to artificial intelligence.  A Gray Local Media Station © 2002-2026