Officials say the current dry spell is affecting the appearance of the area's foliage.
The water levels definitely affect the fall color. Rainfall is almost 4 inches below normal for this time of year, said Mark McKinley, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Albany. In the Albany area, there has been 24.58 inches of rain so far this year, compared with last year's 39.95 inches, McKinley said. This October's rainfall is about an inch below normal. Less rain can lead to changes in leaf color and possible water shortages in wells.