Does the vibrance of our fall colors seem muted this season? A West Virginia University tree expert thinks we just need to manage our expectations.

"If you go in the woods, you'll find vibrant colors," said Dave McGill, a forest resources specialist and professor at WVU.

McGill said this year's fall foliage report matches an average fall and shouldn't be compared negatively to the rare autumn season with unusually vibrant colors. McGill has traveled throughout West Virginia recently and said colors are a bit better to the south and little less colorful to the north.

"The biggest impact has been the drought conditions in the late summer and early part of fall and the mild weather has led to delayed and subdued colors," McGill said Wednesday.

"Every year that we have a late-season drough

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