Don’t miss the full story, whose reporting from Patrick Whittle and Michael Casey at The Associated Press is the basis of this AI-assisted article.

​Weeks of drought across the United States have dulled this year’s fall foliage colors and caused leaves to drop earlier than usual, though tourism businesses and nature enthusiasts say the autumn season remains resilient and beautiful.

Some key facts:

• More than 40% of the country was experiencing drought conditions in early October, more than twice the average amount.

• The drought has hit the Northeast and western United States especially hard, affecting popular leaf-peeping destinations.

• Dry weather causes leaves to brown and fall more quickly rather than develop vibrant autumn colors of yellow, orange, and red.

• Mills Falls Resort Collection in Meredith, New Hampshire, reports being booked solid on weekends through mid-October despite the muted foliage.

• Canadian tourists to New England leaf-peeping destinations are down by as much as 80%, but domestic travelers and visitors from other countries have filled the gap.

• One Colorado town temporarily closed its highway offramp to manage gridlock caused by crowds coming to view aspen trees in the Rocky Mountains.

READ MORE: Leaf-peeping season hampered by drought: Fall foliage dropping sooner, showing less color

This article is written with the assistance of generative artificial intelligence based solely on Washington Times original reporting and wire services. For more information, please read our AI policy or contact Ann Wog, Managing Editor for Digital, at awog@washingtontimes.com

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