Fall tree colors are expected to be vibrant in Illinois this year due to spring and summer weather, including plenty of rainfall, according to experts.

The autumnal equinox took place Monday night, marking the official beginning of fall. Some sugar and red maples have already started to turn colors, said Patrick Murphy, a horticulturalist and curator at the Fell Arboretum.

He says because of rain lots of rain there should be good vibrant color and it should last long enough for trees to go through several color changes.

According to Murphy, a drastic weather change last November caused the leaves of many trees to change before the final color stage. Reports indicate some trees are stressed from last year's drought, which can trigger early color changes.

The fall tree colors could stick around for a while, according to Kopsell, if the first frost holds off a while longer and leaves aren't knocked off the trees due to strong storms.

Cooler temperatures produce better colors, said Kelly Allsup, a University of Illinois Extension Office educator in horticulture.