Cherry Blossom Watch Update: January 16, 2017

There’s not much to see yet, and it’s been a fairly unremarkable winter, but we’re now starting to head into the period where things start to take shape.

Photo of Washington DC Cherry Blossoms.
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The cherry blossoms reached peak bloom on March 17, 2024. That's the second-earliest on record.

RELATED:
Latest Updates on the 2024 Bloom
Peak Bloom Forecasts in Detail

It’s still too early to know when Washington DC’s cherry blossoms will bloom in 2017.

So far it’s been a pretty unremarkable winter. We’ve had some warm spells, a couple of very cold snaps, and some–but not much–snow. Put together, it doesn’t really give much to go on for trying to predict when the flowers will come out. But we’re now heading into the period when things can start to become a little clearer.

The first peak bloom predictions for the year, by the National Park Service and the Washington Post‘s Capital Weather Gang, usually come out around early-March. They’ll then have the benefit of long-range weather forecasts looking into March and early April. For now, though, we’re in wait and see mode.

Now that we’re getting closer, I’ll be posting more regular updates. You can find the latest updates from the front page or follow the Cherry Blossom Watch page on Facebook to get notification of updates in your news feed. And if you’re looking for ideas on things like what to expect and where to stay, I’ve put together some visitor information.

Average Temperatures So Far in Winter 2016-17

So far we’re tracking a little above the historical normal through the late fall and first part of winter.

  • January (so far): 3.0° above normal
  • December: 2.1° above normal
  • November: 3.0° above normal

Unfortunately, though, warmer temperatures this early in the process aren’t necessarily reliable indicators one way or the other for when the bloom will come. As you can see from the table below, it’s entirely possible to have a warm November and December and still end up with a late bloom. The temperatures in late January, February, and March are more important in setting the pace. And there’s still plenty of winter to come.

For comparison, here are how much the monthly averages varied from the historical average for that month broken down by the months leading up to that year’s bloom.

DecemberJanuaryFebruaryMarchPeak Bloom Date
2023-24+3.8+2.3+4.4+9.4March 17
2022-23-1.6+7.7+6.8+1.5ˤMarch 23
2021-22+5.9-2.9+2.6+5.0March 21
2020-21+1.7+2.6-1.2+4.2March 28
2019-20+2.4+6.4+4.8+7.3*March 20
2018-19+3.8+1.2+3.2+0.0April 1
2017-18-0.5-0.3+6.3-3.2April 5
2016-17+2.1+6.1+8.7-0.7*March 25
2015-16+11.5-1.1+0.9+6.5*March 25
2014-15+4.0-0.4-8.7-1.5April 10
2013-14+2.6-3.8-1.2-3.9April 10
2012-13+5.9+4.3-0.7-3.0April 9
2011-12+4.9+4.7+5.3+10March 20
2010-11--1.3+3.6-0.9March 29
Data sources: National Weather Service / National Park Service.
ˤ = partial month, in progress
* = up until peak bloom

Photos from January 16

As you can see from the photos, there’s not much to see yet. If you’re coming into town for the inauguration, here’s the type of thing you can expect to see around the Tidal Basin.

Cherry Trees at the Tidal Basin - January 15, 2017

Cherry Trees at the Tidal Basin - January 15, 2017

Cherry Trees at the Tidal Basin - January 15, 2017

Cherry Trees at the Tidal Basin - January 15, 2017

Cherry Trees at the Tidal Basin - January 15, 2017

Cherry Trees at the Tidal Basin - January 15, 2017

Cherry Trees at the Tidal Basin - January 15, 2017

Cherry Trees at the Tidal Basin - January 15, 2017

Tulip Magnolia Trees at the Tidal Basin - January 15, 2017
These are some large tulip magnolias nearby that bloom ahead of the cherry blossoms.

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