“For the most part, we’ve had a very good year for the fall foliage,” said Sutherland, who is one of the top experts on how weather affects plants in this region. “Through the spring and summer we had the type of conditions that should result in eye-popping colors.

“The downside has been this hotter weather in late September and into October. The warmer temperatures have really been pushing the plants. That is not good for the brighter colors.”

Oklahoma Mesonet is a system of environmental monitoring stations designed and implemented by scientists with the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University. There are 121 automated stations covering Oklahoma with at least one in all 77 counties.

Weather reports from eastern Oklahoma would seem to indicate favorable conditions for a colorful fall. From Broken Bow to Talimena Drive, the state’s premiere fall foliage trip, and up to Miami, Sutherland believes it is a good year to take a fall foliage tour.

“This has been a good weather year for foliage,” said Sutherland, who does a report on SUNUP, a weekly statewide show on OETA. “I think we would have liked cooler temperatures in the past few weeks. Those cooler temperatures are critical to get the brightest reds, oranges and purples.