NEW RECORD

Monday’s high in Roanoke broke the old record of 86 set in 1962.

JOSH MELTZER | The Roanoke Times

Francis Thompson strolls through Wasena Park on Monday enjoying the hot weather. "All I have to do is think about snow and this is fine," he said. Other Roanoke residents also said they liked the record-breaking heat, which could end this week.

HIGHS IN ROANOKE

• Saturday: 83
• Sunday: 91
• Monday: 91

FORECAST HIGHS THIS WEEK

• Today: 91
• Wednesday: 84
• Thursday: 68

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Two days of record-busting temperatures and a severe-to-moderate drought are likely to mean less color and a shorter viewing period for Southwest Virginia's leaf-peeping season.

The 91-degree high in Roanoke on Monday broke the old record of 86 degrees set in 1962. The hot-dry combination is causing many trees to shed their leaves earlier than usual and with duller colors of browns and yellows, forestry experts say.

The mercury is set to rise again today, and forecasters are expecting another record breaker, said Robert Stonefield, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Blacksburg. The Oct. 9 record, also 86 degrees, was set in 1958.

"The cooler temperatures will come," Stonefield said. But until then, a high-pressure system hanging over the region is creating clear skies and direct sunlight that are infusing an already-parched region with heat. Since Saturday, the mercury has registered about 20 degrees above normal, he added.

And those high temperatures, in turn, are perpetuating the drought and making the leaf-changing conditions less than ideal.

Denny McCarthy, an assistant regional forester with the Virginia Department of Forestry, said this year's showing of autumn color is already suffering from a lack of rain.

"Because of the drought, leaves are being shed, and in some cases shed without color," McCarthy said. Many trees are shutting down earlier than usual and going into winter dormancy to save energy for spring, he said.

For optimum foliage color, trees typically need cool, crisp nights and warm, sunny days, McCarthy added. "Those are the things that really influence pigment changes and encourage them to be brilliant," he said.

But the unusual temperature variations and prolonged dryness have instead shortened the viewing season and dulled the vibrancy of the colors. Even the midseason peak is likely to be more muted, McCarthy said.

"You're not going to see the range and amount of color at one time," he added.

Peaks are expected for the second and third weeks in October, according to the Virginia Department of Forestry Web site.

The hot-dry weather combination also creates another challenge for foresters this fall: the possibility of woodland fires.

"The drought has put us in a position to be facing wildland fires like never before," McCarthy said.

Oct. 15 marks the beginning of what he described as the fire season -- meaning the humidity is lower and there are stronger winds conducive to fanning flames. Add a lack of moisture and dry, crackling leaves, and nature is literally adding more fuel to the fire if one were to start, McCarthy said.

For urban folks, though, the autumn heat was somewhat of a surprise.

Vestal Poff, owner of Poff Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration in Salem, said he has been inundated with calls for repairs on both heating and cooling systems.

"Usually, [October] goes to heat season," Poff said. "Now, we're back to air conditioning. People don't know which way to go."

Rosa Weeks, owner of Christy's Apparel and Accessories in downtown Roanoke, said her summer and spring stock are still selling off the racks because of the warm weather. She has also put some of her fall selection out on the floor and is selling clothes for both seasons -- including sweaters and jackets -- in this October heat, she said.

Asked how she gets customers to don long-sleeved cardigans in 90-degree weather, she said she keeps the air conditioning on: "I got it cranking, honey."

Even so, this mild heat wave is bound to end soon. A cold front is expected to move in late this afternoon, Stonefield said. Temperatures on Wednesday will be back in the mid-80s, and they should be back to the autumn norm by Thursday, he said.

In the meantime, Roanoke residents such as Diane Johns will be savoring the last hints of summer by riding around in her convertible with the top down.

Walking from her downtown office Monday, Johns wore a sleeveless dress and strappy heels. But even this heat wave felt somewhat tempered.

"It doesn't feel like a record breaker," she said. "I mean there is a breeze blowing."