Cherry Blossom Watch Update: March 26, 2017

The cherry blossoms reached peak bloom yesterday. As expected, the bloom this year is a little more subdued than usual simply because it’s firing with only half its usual firepower. Despite that, though, they’re putting on a beautiful show. Over the next few days the blossoms will gradually go from white to a pale pink.

Photo of Washington DC Cherry Blossoms.

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The cherry blossoms reached peak bloom on March 17, 2024. That's the second-earliest on record.

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Latest Updates on the 2024 Bloom
Peak Bloom Forecasts in Detail

The cherry blossoms reached peak bloom yesterday. As expected, the bloom this year is a little more subdued than usual simply because it’s firing with only half its usual firepower. Despite that, though, they’re putting on a beautiful show. Over the next few days the blossoms will gradually go from white to a pale pink.

Peak bloom is the day on which when 70 percent of the blossoms are fully blooming. This year, it’s calculated on the blossoms that weren’t knocked out by the cold.

Yesterday was very warm but mostly overcast. Today is still very overcast, but so far it’s breezy and much cooler. The blossoms are in full bloom, although the weather isn’t especially picturesque.

I was surprised again this morning at how relatively quiet it was. While there were certainly quite a few people out, it’s nowhere near as crowded as it has been during full bloom weekends in recent years. Crowds will build during the day, though. If you go down this morning, take a jacket–it’s cooler than it looks, especially in the breeze.

Weren’t all the cherry blossoms killed in the snowstorm?

Despite the photos of cherry blossom popsicles, it wasn’t so much the snowstorm as a couple of nights with freezing temperatures right around that time. Hard freezes wiped out the blossoms that were in the last stage before actually blooming. That was about 50 percent of the total.

But it turns out that that sounds worse than it looks, and they’ve bounced back remarkably well. There’s no question that the cold caused damage, and it’s very easy to find the after effects, especially up close.

But they look much better than you might expect when you hear that half of them were wiped out. The fresh blossoms are to some extent masking the damage, and even some of the damaged blossoms are flowering. So my guess is that you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how good they look. The photos below were all taken this morning and give a good sense of where they’re at now. They’ll be looking even better over the next few days.

So even if it’s probably not going to be a banner year for the cherry blossoms this year and they might not be bursting at the seams quite as much as usual, they’re still putting on a beautiful show.

Kwanzan Cherry Blossoms

The Kwanzans usually bloom two to three weeks after the more famous and numerous Yoshinos, so they’re a very good option if your visit is a little late for the main bloom.

For now, they’re very early in their blooming process, with the green buds coming through.

I’ve posted a new update on just on them this morning.

For First-Time Visitors

If you’re visiting for the first time, you’re in for a treat! The bloom is a stunning spectacle.

I’ve put together some posts that might help with the logistics.

I have information on where to find the cherry blossoms and how to get to them. On the weekend, almost any other mode of transport will be a better option than driving, but if you are going to drive I’ve put together some ideas for parking options. And here’s some advice for getting around town this weekend from the Washington Post.

And as you wander around the Tidal Basin you’ll come across several monuments and landmarks. Here’s a quick guide to them.

And I’ve also put together some ideas if you’re bringing young kids to the cherry blossoms because there are some logistical and safety considerations to factor in.

Finally, please don’t pick the cherry blossoms or climb on the trees. Some of the old, gnarled ones (ie. the easiest to climb) are from the original planting over a century ago and are easily damaged. So as tempting as that selfie might be, please consider not climbing on the trees to get it.

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms 2017 - March 23

For Photographers

You have to try pretty hard not to get some nice photos of the cherry blossoms, but for anyone interested, I’ve put together a quick guide on how to take this shot of cherry blossoms with Washington Monument.

So When Are They Going to Bloom?

The cherry blossoms are in full bloom now. They reached peak bloom yesterday (March 25).

If you do miss the main ones (Yoshinos), there’s another variety that blooms around 2 to 3 weeks later, the Kwanzan cherry blossoms. There are fewer of them, but they’re very pretty.

How Long Do the Cherry Blossoms Hang Around?

How long the cherry blossoms stick around is about as predictable as everything else about them.

Sometimes they can be out for a week or even, in ideal conditions, even more. Sometimes they can be mostly gone a few days after the peak bloom date.

It depends a lot on the weather. Cool, calm weather prolongs the bloom. Warm, windy, rainy weather encourages a quick exit. I’ve put together a photo timeline based on recent years that gives some idea of what to expect, when. It also shows how much variation there can be year to year.

This year, there are still some trees trailing behind the others and haven’t caught up. That’s going to work in favor of drawing out the bloom even more than we’ve already seen (the first flowers started coming out on the indicator tree nearly a month ago.)

This year there have been so many curveballs that it’s even less predictable. That said, and because it’s a natural question that so many people are asking, here are my current best guesses based on the expectation that they’ll reach peak bloom around this coming weekend. Take these predictions with a grain of salt–I might well be wrong.

Which weekend? If you’re trying to decide whether to go this weekend (March 25-26) or next (April 1-2), this weekend is going to be better for blossoms. It’s also likely to be the most crowded.

Middle of next week. There should still be quite a few out in the middle of next week. There might still be many out. The current weather forecast suggests it should be warm with some rain, but nothing torrential. That warmth isn’t great for prolonging things, but the relatively calm conditions help.

For what it’s worth, about 2-3 days after peak bloom is my personal favorite time, so the beginning of next week should be beautiful. The flowers will start turning light pink and can look even better (in my humble opinion) than on the actual peak bloom day. You can see some examples here.

Weekend of April 1-2. The odds of there being much left by the weekend drop off quite a bit, but it still might be possible to see at least some blossoms. Aside from being roughly a week after peak bloom, current weather forecasts suggest that conditions might become more unsettled, with more rain and maybe even thunderstorms. Most of the blossoms will likely be well on their way out by then, but there’s still a good chance of the late bloomers sticking around. It might not be many, but there’s potentially a chance of seeing at least some blossoms.

Weekend of April 8-9. The main ones (Yoshinos) will be done, and it’s pretty unlikely that they won’t be all or nearly all leafing out by this point. But the timing could be excellent to see the Kwanzan cherry blossoms (and perhaps the tulips, another spring highlight around here). There are fewer of them, but blossom for blossom the Kwanzans are arguably even prettier than the Yoshinos. I have more information on them, including a map showing where to find some of the larger clusters, here.

The Story So Far

If you’re just tuning in, here’s a quick recap of where we’re at.

It has been a topsy-turvy lead-up to the bloom this year. A warmer than normal winter led into a very warm February. That brought the cherry blossoms to the verge of blooming around mid-March. It was even shaping up to be possibly the earliest on record.

Then an arctic blast hit (well, actually two, but the second, longer one was the most significant for the cherry blossoms–the saucer magnolias got wiped out in the first one). It slowed the development to a crawl. It also wiped out about half of the blossoms because it came right when many were at the stage just before blooming where they were at their most vulnerable. A snow and ice storm turned them into cherry blossom popsicles.

But we’re through that now, temperatures are (mostly) moderating, and we’re well on the way to a second attempt at the bloom over the next several days.

Cherry Blossom Watch on Instagram Feed

I’ve started a new Cherry Blossom Watch Instagram account: @cherryblossomwatch. I’ll often be able to post short updates there more quickly than on the website, so if you want to get a jump on the very latest updates, be sure to check it out.

And while you’re at it, if you’d like to follow along with my main Instagram feed, it’s @havecamerawilltraveldc

Logistics

Best Way to Get to the Cherry Blossoms?

The most famous of DC’s cherry blossoms, and the ones you’ve seen on postcards and TV, are around the Tidal Basin. That’s right next to the National Mall.

There are many ways to get there. Most of them are better than driving, especially on a weekend around peak bloom. Here’s a rundown of the main options.

Parking for the Cherry Blossoms?

This is something I get asked a lot, so I’ve put together a dedicated page on the subject with some ideas. You can find it on the post titled, appropriately enough, Parking for the Cherry Blossoms.

Best Time to Avoid Crowds?

Weekdays are typically less crowded than weekends.

Very early in the morning (around sunrise) is often the quietest (it’s all relative), with crowds building as the day goes on.

If crowds really aren’t your thing, the cherry blossoms around the Tidal Basin aren’t the only show in town. Here are some other places you can find them.

Maine Ave SW Parking Lot

It’s closed for the National Cherry Blossom Festival. There are currently tents, a stage, food tents, and activity areas in there.

Traffic Restrictions on Ohio Drive

The temporary traffic restrictions are now in place. Ohio Drive SW is now one-way, and the entrance to it from the Lincoln Memorial end is closed. To get to it you have to enter via Maine Ave SW and go around the Jefferson Memorial.

Photos from this Morning

Here’s the type of thing you can expect to see if you head down today. These were all taken early this morning.

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms 2017 - March 26

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms 2017 - March 26

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms 2017 - March 26

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms 2017 - March 26

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms 2017 - March 26

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms 2017 - March 26

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms 2017 - March 26

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms 2017 - March 26

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms 2017 - March 26

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms 2017 - March 26

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms 2017 - March 26

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms 2017 - March 26

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms 2017 - March 26

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms 2017 - March 26

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms 2017 - March 26

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms 2017 - March 26

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms 2017 - March 26

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms 2017 - March 26

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms 2017 - March 26

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms 2017 - March 26

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms 2017 - March 26

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms 2017 - March 26

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms 2017 - March 26

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms 2017 - March 26

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms 2017 - March 26

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms 2017 - March 26

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms 2017 - March 26

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms 2017 - March 26

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