Beautiful foliage lights up parts of US | USA TODAY

It's the time across parts of the U.S. where leaves change colors, a sign of the changing seasons and quickly approaching holidays.

RELATEDColorful signs that fall is here

In much of the U.S., drought conditions are forecast to persist throughout the fall months. Dry, hot weather can cause leaves to turn brown and wither before they can reach peak color. Heat waves also are prompting leaves to fall before autumn even arrives.

This year, lackluster colors may be in store for leaf peepers – people who travel to watch nature display its fall colors. It's an annual tradition in many corners of the country, especially in New England and across much of the eastern U.S.

But recent seasons have been disrupted by weather conditions in those regions and elsewhere, and the trend is likely to continue as the planet warms because of climate change, according to arborists, conservationists and ecologists.

» Subscribe to USA TODAY

» Watch more on this and other topics from USA TODAY

» USA TODAY delivers current local and national news, sports, entertainment, finance, technology, and more through award-winning journalism, photos, videos and VR.

#Fall #Leaves #Autumn