Cooler but still well above normal this week

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Stop complaining about all that summer rain. It's about to help deliver a spectacular fall.
 
 

 
Adequate rainfall nearly statewide combined with lots of summer sunshine point to a beautiful fall leaf season in Minnesota, the state Department of Natural Resources said Thursday as it launched its annual 

 
Rainfall and sunshine throughout the summer months determine the depth of color each fall in Minnesota. Temperatures also come into play — an early freezing frost can cut short fall color, the agency noted.

The fall colors of Minnesota -- on Instagram

 
 
The west-central and northwestern parts of Minnesota saw less rain this summer than the metro area, although, sometimes less rain (not counting drought conditions) can increase the color display, the DNR said.
 


 
 
Generally, colors peak between mid-September and early October in the northern third of Minnesota, between late September and early October in the central third of the state, and between late September and mid-October in the southern third, which includes the Twin Cities, the agency added.

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Stop complaining about all that summer rain. It's about to help deliver a spectacular fall, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources said Thursday as it launched its seasonal fall color finder map.

It's hard to believe, but the leaves are starting to change color in some places around Minnesota. Each fall, we check in with Pat Arndt from the Department of Natural Resources. They track the best places for leaf peeping with their fall color finder map. This week, Pat told MPR's Cathy Wurzer that the change of color isn't very pronounced, but it is underway.

Color coated: DNR expects a glorious Minnesota fall leaf season

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