Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 21, 2016

It’s a cool morning at the Tidal Basin, but ended up being a clear sunrise. The blossoms are still taking their time with slow & steady progress.

Photo of Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 21, 2016 taken by David Coleman.

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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

There’s not a lot new since yesterday, although it’s a much prettier morning.

The trees are making slow and steady progress, but the cold weather is making it a rather drawn-out start to the bloom. That’s likely to change in the next few days as we get some warmer-than-normal weather and the pace picks up again as we get deeper into the week.

There was a little snow overnight, but none of it stuck and there’s no sign of it this morning. The clouds cleared out right in time for sunrise, but there were only a handful of people on hand at the Tidal Basin to enjoy it.

In the early morning, at least, it’s still very quiet at the Tidal Basin. Parking is easy, and the special traffic restrictions that are put in place along Ohio Drive when the crowds start arriving haven’t been implemented yet.

It looks the sun will be out for a good portion of today and will be joined by a stiff breeze. If you head down to the Tidal Basin today you won’t have any trouble finding flowers out, although it’s still a minority of trees that are blooming. Most of them have yet to really get going.

Photos From This Morning

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 21, 2016

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 21, 2016

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 21, 2016

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 21, 2016

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 21, 2016

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 21, 2016

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 21, 2016

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 21, 2016

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 21, 2016

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 21, 2016

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 21, 2016

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 21, 2016

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 21, 2016

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 21, 2016

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 21, 2016

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 21, 2016

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 21, 2016

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 21, 2016

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 21, 2016

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 21, 2016

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 21, 2016

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 21, 2016

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 21, 2016

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 21, 2016

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 21, 2016

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 21, 2016

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 21, 2016

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 21, 2016

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 21, 2016

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 21, 2016

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 21, 2016

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 21, 2016

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 21, 2016

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 21, 2016

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 21, 2016

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 21, 2016

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 21, 2016

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 21, 2016

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 21, 2016

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 21, 2016

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 21, 2016