CLEVELAND — The dry stretch across Northeast Ohio continues as we start the month of October. The abnormally dry conditions are leaving their mark on trees. In some places, it looks a lot like peak fall foliage is arriving ahead of schedule.

Leaves on stressed trees are curling, browning and dropping weeks before peak foliage season. In some cases, scattered patches of yellow or red are showing up early, leading to confusion about whether the fall display is underway.

The difference comes down to how the leaves look and behave. Drought stress forces trees to conserve water by shutting down early, which speeds up leaf drop. The result is often patchy, with some branches bare while others hold on. Colors tend to be duller, with edges turning crisp or scorched, and leaves may crumble when

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