2023 Peak Bloom
The NPS judged that the Yoshino cherry blossoms around the Tidal Basin reached peak bloom on March 23, 2023. They're now done for the year..
It's definitely a lot warmer now than it has been, but it's a quiet and even slightly dreary morning down at the Tidal Basin. A bald eagle cruises above the water, and there aren't many people out and about. Showers threaten for later.
The Tidal Basin was covered in a thin layer of ice last week, but it has now completely thawed. This time last year it was covered with thick ice that lasted well into March. But we're tracking several degrees warmer so far this year compared with last year.
As you can see in the close-up photos below, the buds are starting to show a little more definition as they continue the early stages of development, but they still have a ways to go.
The past couple of days have started to feel a bit like spring. Yesterday and today we've seen unusually warm temperatures for February. Yesterday saw a lot of people and out and about making the most of it.
But since the last update it has mostly been a pretty typical mixed bag. We had a few inches of snow early in the week (a little more in some places), which got covered with a layer of ice as it turned from snow to rain. But it didn't stick around long. As you can see from the updates from February 18 and February 22 last year and February 20, 2014, it's all pretty normal for this time of year.
Here's how we're tracking so far for monthly average temperatures. We had a warm start to February, but now that we're halfway through the month, the recent cold snap has dragged the in-progress monthly average down to just below normal. If the forecast for the rest of the month holds, we'll likely end up a shade under normal for the month.
| December | January | February | March | Peak Bloom Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | -1.6 | +7.7 | +6.8 | +1.5ˤ | March 23 |
| 2021-22 | +5.9 | -2.9 | +2.6 | +5.0 | March 21 |
| 2020-21 | +1.7 | +2.6 | -1.2 | +4.2 | March 28 |
| 2019-20 | +2.4 | +6.4 | +4.8 | +7.3* | March 20 |
| 2018-19 | +3.8 | +1.2 | +3.2 | +0.0 | April 1 |
| 2017-18 | -0.5 | -0.3 | +6.3 | -3.2 | April 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 | -1.5 | April 10 |
| 2013-14 | +2.6 | -3.8 | -1.2 | -3.9 | April 10 |
| 2012-13 | +5.9 | +4.3 | -0.7 | -3.0 | April 9 |
| 2011-12 | +4.9 | +4.7 | +5.3 | +10 | March 20 |
| 2010-11 | - | -1.3 | +3.6 | -0.9 | March 29 |
ˤ = partial month, in progress
* = up until peak bloom
Peak Bloom Forecasts
We should start getting the first major peak bloom forecasts in a couple of weeks or so. The experts will be taking a look at how the trees are looking, how the winter has shaped up thus far, and the long-range weather forecasts for the rest of February and March. Sometime around early March they should put out their first prediction for the season. Sometimes those first forecasts stick–as they did last year–and sometimes they get revised as we get closer to the date. As always, you can find the latest information on the 2016 peak bloom forecasts page.
Photos from This Morning
Looking forward to my first visit to the cherry blossom festival. Keep me informed of peak dates. Thank you
whatever happened with the beavers in the tidal basin?
Looks like the ones years ago were relocated. I haven’t heard of any more recently.
My husband and I visited last year and if I recall, the projected peak bloom was right on!
Looking forward to the 2016 cherry blossoms in Washington, DC.
Yes, they’ve been very accurate the past couple of years.
This is the most adorable and informative website I’ve seen! It absolutely made my day. Thanks!