Strange Early Leave Color Change and Fall

I have noticed the leaves on some of the trees near and around my house have been changing color and falling off recently.  I have also received confirmation that this is happening elsewhere along the east coast. Normally leaves can do this if the weather is dry or temperatures are well below average. However these are not contributing factors where I live.  So I began to look into the amount of solar radiation the surface has received this summer. Plants are dependent on solar radiation for photosynthesis to produce "food". During Autumn the amount of solar radiation the surface receives decreases along with the temperature (of the surface) causing plants to stop replenishing the chlorophyll in the leaves which creates the color change in fall. Because temperature and precipitation don't necessarily apply, I believe that decreased solar radiation is causing this leave change. This could occur due to multiple factors like volcanic ash in the atmosphere, increased cloud cover, the sun itself, or air pollution/other man made things. The two factors that I think apply the most to this situation are: increased cloud cover, and a sunspot maximum that could be the lowest in 100 years. The east coast has had an extremely wet summer, especially the southeast, and I, personally, haven't seen a cloudless day in a very, very long time. Also, on a cloudy day the surface receives only about 1/3 the amount of sunlight it would get on a sunny day. Sunspots, when facing the Earth can result in more solar radiation reaching the Earth than the sun without sunspots. The plants, who were most likely used to conditions other than the two I just described probably assumed that because they were receiving less solar radiation, that it was fall and time for the leaves to change color and fall off.

Henry's Storm Safety Tips #7

Do not go outside during a hailstorm, no matter how badly you want to save your brand new car (unless you value it more than your life). On March 28, 2000 in Lake Worth, Texas a 19-year-old boy was killed by a grapefruit sized hailstone while trying to save his new car.

Forecaster Facts #12

If a front/wave pattern develops on the interface between warm and cold air extreme temperature variations can occur in a matter of minutes. On January 22, 1943, Spearfish, South Dakota experienced an event like this. As of 7:30 AM the temperature was -4 degrees Fahrenheit (F), it then rose to 45F by 7:32 AM. Then the the temperature increased to 54F by 9:00 AM before falling back to -4F by 9:27 AM.

Weekly Overview July 17-27

This weekly overview is late so I have decided to combine it with next week's. A heat wave will grip the majority of the Carolinas until Sunday. The temperatures will be in the 90s in the piedmont with heat indexes soaring into the 100s. Sunday through Wednesday the temperatures will be in the upper 80s but the heat will return late week with temperatures in the mid-to-upper 90s with heat indexes once again reaching the 100s. There will be the chance for afternoon thunderstorms throughout almost the entire week(s). The mountains will be cooler staying in the lower 80s until the weekend when it will cool off to the mid to upper 70s. It will stay like this throughout the remainder of the week(s). There is the chance for afternoon thunderstorms for about the first 2/3 of the week(s), then the weather should be dry. The beach should have temperatures in the upper 80s for most of the week(s) but the last few days should be in the mid to upper 90s with heat indexes in the 100s. There is the chance for afternoon thunderstorms mid-to-late week(s).

Sorry

I am terribly sorry for not posting the last couple of days. I have been much busier than the average young adult and unfortunately the busy trend will continue through the entirety of next week, however I will sufficient time to post through Friday. But it will be very hard for me to post after that. So, to make things easier and more reliable for everyone, I will post the next two forecaster facts and the next storm safety tip. I will try my very best to post next week  but I can't be sure at the moment whether or not I can post because I don't quite know just how busy I will be.

Henry's Storm Safety Tips #6

As soon as you see a storm cloud or if any type of warning is issued, it's a good idea to take shelter because lightning can strike up to 10 miles ahead of a storm, even if the sky above you is blue, hence the name "bolt from the blue".

Forecaster Facts #11

In the inside of a hurricane's eye-wall, the winds spin in the opposite direction.