Trees breaking out in amazing color - ABC 12 – WJRT – Flint, MI

(10/09/12) - It's being called, by some, the best season for fall color in years.

Sunny days and cool nights typically help brighten Mid-Michigan trees. However, this year, there are other forces at work that's really popping out the reds, yellows and oranges.

"I love the colors. They just put you in this warm spirit and mood," said Flint native Sherry Felton.

This year, a combination of factors is leading to a lot of 'Oooo's' and 'Ahhhhh's.'

"Oh, my gosh. This is the prettiest thing in the world. I've only been here six years but I wouldn't leave Michigan for nothing. This is beautiful," said Robert Smith of Grand Blanc.

You could say our awesome fall color actually got a running start earlier this year, when we experienced record warm weather in winter and spring.

Bradley West is a plant health care technician with Advance Tree Care Services. He's noticed the extra brightness on Mid-Michigan trees and explains it this way, "It started Mid-March. We also have factors such as temperature, sunlight. Sunlight actually regulated chlorophyll in the tree itself. That being the case, we've had longer daylight hours, the trees were able to produce more sugars and that, in turn, as we start seeing a decline in sunlight, and a decline in temperature, we're starting to see those sugars, those vibrant colors, oranges, reds and browns come out on the trees themselves."

There's high to peak color now across the U.P. and much of northern lower Michigan, with moderate color from the thumb, Flint area and southern parts of the state.

Without any significant loss of leaves from gusty winds yet, fall enthusiasts still have a chance to relish the kaleidoscope of colors for at least another week or two.

Hard to believe, the bright colors come from the same weather that was so bad for much of Michigan's fruit crop.