The cherry blossoms are going strong and looking stunning. It’s not nearly as cold and breezy as it was yesterday, and while the sky isn’t as clear either, it’s still a very pretty morning at the Tidal Basin. Like yesterday, there was a sunrise rush, but after that the crowds quickly thinned out.
If you look very closely at the flowers you can see that some are starting to go pink in the middle. I’ve included some examples in the photos below.
More details and photos from this morning below.
How It’s Looking at the Tidal Basin This Morning
Weekend of April 6-7
As part of their peak bloom announcement yesterday, the National Park Service said that “Based on the current conditions and forecast, you can expect to see the trees in blossom for the next seven to 10 days.”
Right now, the weather forecast for the coming several days is favorable for keeping the blossoms out. It should be mostly cool and calm for much of this week.
It looks like a good chance of rain on Friday and some unsettled weather over the weekend, potentially with thunderstorms. That kind of weather isn’t helpful for the blossoms, and by that point they’ll be getting quite fragile. It’s impossible to say for sure what effect it will have–or even if the weather pans out as forecast, for that matter–so we’ll just have to wait and see.
Cherry Blossom 10-Miler
Sunday morning sees the running of the Cherry Blossom 10-miler is being run that morning. That will see tens of thousands of runners in the area around the Tidal Basin and National Mall.
You can still get to the Tidal Basin and the cherry blossoms remain accessible, but it does make the logistics of getting to and from more complicated. Many of the roads in the area will be closed for the morning–including for parking.
You can find more information here.
And good luck to all the runners!
First Time Visiting?
I’ve put together some information on the monuments and memorials you’ll come across as you wander around the Tidal Basin.
Here’s some information on getting to and from the cherry blossoms, and here’s some information specifically on parking options.
I’ve also put together some suggestions of you’re visiting with young kids.
Early Bloomer
These are of one of the other trees that also reliably blooms a little ahead of the other, although not as early as the indicator tree. I’ll aim to track this tree regularly as we move through the bloom. These are the same branch, with the newest at top.
It’s moving well past its prime now, and some of the petals came off in yesterday’s showers and breeze.
Logistics
The Tidal Basin’s parking lot by the paddle boats is now closed for the Cherry Blossom Festival Welcome Area. It will be closed through April 18.
Ohio Drive has been switched to the special one-way traffic pattern. You can still get to Ohio Drive, but you’ll have to go around the other side of the Tidal Basin, past the paddle boats, and enter by the Jefferson Memorial. According to one of the signs, the traffic pattern is due to stay in place until April 14. That seems a bit excessive, so it’s possible it might revert back to normal before then.
If you’re coming in from the Arlington side of the Potomac, be aware Memorial Bridge is undergoing major structural repairs. It is still open, but there are temporary traffic lanes that can impact traffic flow and where you can turn once you get off the bridge. So using one of the other bridges might be a better bet.
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