Snow. Lots of snow. The official number was 17.8 inches at Reagan National Airport, which is just across the Potomac from the Tidal Basin. But that number almost certainly underreports it thanks to a flawed method of measuring. But however you measure it, it was a lot.
The cherry trees are sitting amongst deep snow, and the Tidal Basin and Potomac are both iced over.
We haven’t quite done with January yet, of course, but so far the month’s temperatures have been slightly below average, by 1.8°.
Here’s how we’re tracking so far in terms of average monthly temperatures compared with recent years:
December | January | February | March | Peak Bloom Date | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2023-24 | +3.8 | +2.3 | +4.4 | +9.4 | March 17 |
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
Because the temperatures in February and March tend to matter more to the bloom timing than those of December, we’re now heading into a crucial period. Over the next 5-6 weeks the experts at the National Park Service will start firming up their preliminary forecast for the peak bloom. As always, you can find the latest information on the 2016 peak bloom page.
360° Virtual Tour
Here’s a 360° virtual tour up amongst the trees.
[pano file=”http://panos.havecamerawilltravel.com/cherryblossoms/20160126-1/”]
Photos
And along the Potomac:
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