Jonathan Veit Clemson University CLEMSON – A dry 2016 coupled with a late summer cold front brought on by Tropical Storm Irma has jumpstarted fall color in the southern Appalachians. Clemson University forest ecologist Don Hagan, in his annual fall foliage assessment, reports that the bounty of fall colors enjoyed by so many leaf lookers and businesses is seven to 10 days ahead of schedule in some areas.