Over the last few days, much of Arkansas has picked up steady, soaking rainfall. This is exactly what trees needed after plenty of hot, dry stretches in July & August. The late August rain gave some trees a second chance, and now this recent round of widespread rain has recharged soil moisture even further. Healthy soil plus a good drink of water means leaves are holding on stronger heading into October.

At the same time, we've experienced a noticeable dip in temperatures here in late September (mostly thanks to cloud cover). Cooler nights are a key ingredient for brighter fall colors because they help trap sugars in the leaves. Combine that with sunny afternoons and you get the reds, oranges, and yellows that really pop.

What This Means for Arkansas • Ozarks and Ouachitas: With extra

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