Cherry Blossom Watch 2020 Wrap Up
A wrap up of the curtailed 2020 DC cherry blossom season. See you again in 2021!
The 2020 cherry blossom bloom in DC was very early, brought on by a much warmer-than-normal winter. Peak bloom was March 20, 2020, close to the earliest on record.
The season was unfortunately overshadowed by efforts to control the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The National Cherry Blossom Festival was canceled, travel became difficult, and local authorities strongly discouraged people from visiting the Tidal Basin. So it was a bloom that relatively few people got to witness in person. And, in order to comply with official stay-at-home recommendations, Cherry Blossom Watch coverage was ended with the peak bloom rather than continuing for the usual duration.
This is the master listing of updates from the 2020 Washington DC Cherry Blossom Watch.
A wrap up of the curtailed 2020 DC cherry blossom season. See you again in 2021!
The warm temperatures since yesterday afternoon have brought any of the slower cherry blossoms out now. They’re looking light and fluffy and beautiful.
The cherry blossoms are heading into full bloom, but they’re not quite at peak yet. There are still plenty yet to pop. It’s a dreary morning so far, but it should warm up dramatically this afternoon and tomorrow.
The cherry blossoms area heading into full bloom now. They’re not quite at peak, but they’re starting to look fresh and lovely, especially up close.
The cherry blossoms are popping now. While you can find some trees in full bloom already, most of them are not quite there yet.
The cherry blossoms are racing toward the puffy white stage, and some are beginning to pop. As you walk around the Tidal Basin, it’s easy to find some flowers out now.
The warm temperatures are still speeding things along. The NPS determined that 70 percent of the trees were in the “Peduncle Elongation” stage as of yesterday. Warm temperatures today will give them another jolt of energy before a cooler weekend.
The National Park Service has revised their 2020 cherry blossom peak bloom forecast. They now predict that they’ll reach peak bloom sometime between March 21 and 24.
Warm temperatures into the 70s are encouraging a cracking pace. If you look closely, you can see petals starting to show through the buds on many trees now.
The Washington Post’s Capital Weather Gang has revised their peak bloom prediction, bringing it forward five days. Their new prediction is that the cherry blossoms will reach peak bloom sometime between March 20 and 24.
The indicator tree, Weeping cherry blossoms, and saucer magnolias are in full bloom. And the Yoshinos have reached the extension of florets stage.
After a cooler few days, we’re back into the unseasonably warm weather for the coming week. That’s going to speed things along. The indicator tree is starting to flower. And the saucer magnolias at the Enid A. Haupt Garden behind the Smithsonian Castle are coming into full bloom.
At a press conference this morning, the National Park Service revealed their initial peak bloom prediction for 2020.
The indicator tree is just starting to flower, the saucer magnolias are starting, and peak bloom forecasts are coming out.
The Capital Weather Gang from the Washington Post announced their prediction of a peak bloom between March 25 and March 29.
It’s a beautifully clear and cool morning down at the Tidal Basin. The National Park Service said that the cherry trees had reached the green buds stage as of February 28. Stay tuned on Wednesday for the National Park Service’s announcement of their initial peak bloom prediction.
There are plenty of green buds now, and all indications are still pointing to an early bloom. The NPS will be revealing their peak bloom prediction next week.
There are some early green buds starting to poke through on some of the cherry trees around the Tidal Basin, the area’s daffodils are coming out, as are some of the apricot blossoms and other early-spring flowering fruit trees.
Welcome to the 2020 DC Cherry Blossom Watch! It’s a cold and crisp morning, a sharp break from the warm and rainy weather we’ve had lately.