According to the latest fall colors report from the Iowa DNR; Many factors affect how “brilliant” our fall colors will be each year. Stress, like lack of rain this August and September, often brightens fall colors. But with unpredictable weather, warm evenings or an early frost can cause leaves to be duller. The brightest displays of color occur when we have an early fall of bright sunny days and cool nights. For Southeast Iowa, It’s early in the season. Some yellows and browns are starting to show across the forested landscape. Virginia creeper and poison ivy are red. The peak time for fall colors in Southeast Iowa is estimated to be October 20th.