It’s officially fall in the northern hemisphere, but depending where you are, it might not look like it.

From Maine and Vermont to New York, tourists often flock to the U.S. East Coast to see the maples and oak leaves transform into vibrant oranges and reds. Leaves can change their color from as early as mid-September all the way through early November.

But pay closer attention and you might notice that it doesn’t always follow a predictable pattern from year-to-year. Research shows that climate change is impacting when leaves fall along with the vibrancy of their colors—a tree that was previously barren by the end of October might still have leaves come November, while a drought stricken region might see dull, brown leaves that simply crumble off the tree.

Here’s what to know about why

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