2023 Peak Bloom Predictions
- National Park Service: March 22 - 25
- Washington Post: March 19 - 23
- NBC Storm Team 4: March 15 - 20
These are the current predictions, but it's not unusual for them to be revised as we get closer to peak bloom. You can always find the latest information on the 2023 cherry blossom peak bloom page.
It's still cold and windy. The cold has kept progress at a snail's pace, and there's not much change from yesterday. Some cherry blossoms are starting to bloom, but it's still only a smattering compared to what's coming. Many of the trees still have some work to do before they're ready to pop.
Warmer temperatures, reaching into the 60s, are expected on Thursday and Friday. These will help move things along, and there will be many more flowers out over the weekend.
The National Park Service is expecting peak bloom next week. They posted a tweak yesterday to their prediction without actually going so far as revising their dates: “We're expecting peak bloom to arrive at the early side of our prediction (March 22-25) or even a few days before.”
Heads up:
- West Basin Drive is closed. Ohio Drive still has normal traffic patterns and access as of this morning.
- On Saturday, the Rock ‘n' Roll Marathon will result in some road closures downtown, around the Mall, and Memorial Bridge. The Tidal Basin will remain open.
- The Welcome Area next to the MLK Memorial is scheduled to open on Saturday.
There's more info on these at the end of this post.
How It Looks This Morning
It's still cold and blustery, but it's also sunnier than yesterday.
Things Worth Knowing
- West Basin Drive is closed for the Welcome Area setup and is scheduled to remain closed through April 6. The MLK Memorial and FDR Memorial remain open as usual to pedestrian traffic.
- Ohio Drive traffic pattern is currently normal, but expect that to change any day now.
- On Saturday (March 18), there will be a Rock ‘n' Roll Marathon downtown. Most of the course is not near the Tidal Basin, but it does run along a section of Constitution Ave, around the Lincoln Memorial, and over Memorial Bridge. As a result, there will be some road closures affecting the area to consider if you plan to drive, especially if you are coming from the northern side of the National Mall or from Arlington (Memorial Bridge will be closed). Check the road closure information they've posted as well as a street-by-street breakdown.
- The National Cherry Blossom Festival runs from March
2018 through April 16. (They've revised the opening date to March 18.) - The 2023 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run & 5K Run-Walk is scheduled for the weekend of April 1-2. The Tidal Basin will still be open to pedestrian traffic, but there will be road closures in the surrounding area.
- The Jefferson Memorial is still undergoing renovations. The current phase mainly affects the lower level inside, but there's some fencing and scaffolding at ground level outside. The main rotunda remains open. The exterior renovations to the dome are still looking great!
- Parking lots A, B, and C mostly won't be available for visitor parking this year. They're being used as staging and storage areas for nearby construction on the Metro line.
- If you're looking for accommodation, I've put together some suggestions on where to stay when visiting DC's cherry blossoms.
Local Charity Spotlight
Looking to give back? Here's one of the local charities (or with local links) that is well worth contributing to.
Cape Ivy
Cape Ivy provides warmth, comfort and support to children who have chronic or critical illnesses and their families.
Cape Ivy provides fleece ponchos to children in the hospital because robes, sweaters and jackets don’t work well with IV lines and other medical equipment. Cape Ivy is a resource for families experiencing long-term hospitalization of children.
I've had the pleasure of personally seeing a small glimpse of the impact this organization. They're wonderful people doing wonderful work.
You can donate directly on their website and learn more about their mission and impact.
