… A dismal snowpack followed by a warm spring with short bursts of precipitation put the aspens and other trees in distress, dimming the glow of Colorado’s seasonal color show in many parts of the state. … If there’s enough sugar trapped in the leaves, some will turn a purplish-red. This year, that wasn’t the case for many aspen strands because the trees were stressed for water and struggling to keep the metabolic process going. … Farther west, where the extreme drought conditions persisted through the summer, more leaves have browned edges.

Other drought impact news:

• 9News (Denver, Colo.): Colorado tree species feeling impact of climate change, study says