Heat robs U.S. regions of prime fall color

Autumn's warm sweep has come less than two months after the August heat wave was blamed for more than 50 deaths nationwide and average temperatures were at least 10 degrees above normal in numerous parts of the country. It was the warmest August in 113 years of record-keeping in eight states: Alabama, the Carolinas, Florida and Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia. Farther west, several cities including Boise, Reno and Missoula, Mont., tied or set records for their warmest July. Reno didn't get measurable rain for more than 12 weeks.