CORNELL, N.Y. (WENY)-- The Autumn Equinox was on Sunday, signifying the start of the Autumn Season. During this season, many look forward to the vibrant fall colors as the leaves change color. 

'' People travel to Upstate New York and New England to see the foliage because we have a lot of forest here. Having forest topography matters. Being able to look on top of a hill and look out at a distance and see a tapestry of colors is something special,'' said Daniel Weitoish, an Arboriculture Supervisor at Cornell. 

Chlorophyll, a pigment in plants, causes the green color in leaves and powers photosynthesis. During the Fall these green pigments break down during the longer and cooler nights, causing leaves to change to a more radiant color. 

Generating strong reds, purples, yellows, and oranges is never a guarantee. Foliage color only develops to its full potential when days are cool, and nights are chilly, but not freezing.

''Dry conditions can have two impacts on the foliage. Drought conditions can lead to trees becoming stressed and losing their leaves too early. Dry conditions can also lead to the peak being pushed back, especially with species like the Oaks,'' said Weitoish

Weitoish said that it can be more complicated than this because the ideal conditions for vibrant fall colors are sunny days during the fall. These conditions bring out the colors more.

According to Weitoish, while warmer temperatures can delay the foliage, early frost at night can be damaging to the foliage. The Climate Prediction Center is calling for warmer than normal temperatures over the next two weeks, which can reduce our chances of getting an early frost. 

''We're likely to have a shorter window of peak, at least here in the Twin tiers. It was a stressful beginning to the year. Species-wise, I think the oaks are likely to be pushed back. For the oaks in our collection and in our area, there is no indication of them changing soon,'' said Daniel Weitoish. 

The Climate Prediction Center is calling for near normal precipitation over the next two weeks. Therefore, rainfall should not be a significant factor that limits the foliage potential this year.