Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 12, 2015

It’s a beautiful spring day down at the Tidal Basin. And the Washington Post Capital Weather Gang has issued their first peak bloom forecast for the season.

Photo of Cherry Blossoms - March 12, 2015 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

It’s a beautiful spring day out. Warm, sunny, and only a very light breeze. It’s the first time the area has been snow and ice-free for a while now.

Mostly, that is. The Tidal Basin is still doggedly clinging to its layer of ice. But the ice is now wafer thin and on its last legs. A few more days of warmer temperatures and the water will finally be clear for paddle boating (which is theoretically scheduled to open for business this weekend).

The Washington Post‘s Capital Weather Gang has today issued their own peak bloom forecast, predicting that peak bloom will fall sometime in the window of April 9 through 13, “centered on April 11.” (You can read a detailed explanation of their reasoning here.)

That’s in pretty close agreement with the National Park Service’s peak bloom forecast issued last week: April 11-14. Both forecasts are for reaching peak bloom significantly after the historical average of April 3-4, thanks to a winter that turned very cold and quite snowy.

Here are some shots of how their looking as of lunchtime today. And, as always, you can find the latest predictions on the peak bloom forecast page.

Cherry Blossoms - March 12, 2015

Cherry Blossoms - March 12, 2015

Cherry Blossoms - March 12, 2015

Cherry Blossoms - March 12, 2015

Cherry Blossoms - March 12, 2015

Cherry Blossoms - March 12, 2015

Cherry Blossoms - March 12, 2015

Cherry Blossoms - March 12, 2015

Cherry Blossoms - March 12, 2015

Cherry Blossoms - March 12, 2015

Cherry Blossoms - March 12, 2015

Cherry Blossoms - March 12, 2015

Cherry Blossoms - March 12, 2015

Cherry Blossoms - March 12, 2015

Discussion

  1. Thank you for this update! I’ve also made hotel reservations to come up from Florida to see these trees and enjoy the festival with my boyfriend. We are keeping our fingers crossed hoping to see these lovely pink trees in bloom for Easter Weekend! Please give more updates soon! ♥

    Reply
  2. Thanks for the uptades. We will be in DC during the Easter weekend. Just booked our hotel. We will keep our fingers crossed. Please Mother Nature, not too much frost!

    Reply
    • Aiming for a new update post tomorrow. The buds move relatively slowly in these early stages so no dramatic changes in them to see just yet. No changes in the peak bloom forecasts. Latest ones are here.

      Reply
  3. Thanks – I’m keeping a close watch as I will be in Washington for Easter weekend – and the main reason we are coming is for the cherry blossoms! Will be crossing my fingers for an early bloom.

    Reply

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