In light of the colder than expected temperatures forecast for the next week, the folks at the National Park Service have revised their peak bloom forecast and pushed it back to March 19 to 22. It’s not at all unusual for their forecasts to be revised as we get closer to the date as the actual weather conditions diverge from the long-range weather forecast they initially relied upon.
While the area is currently seeing a short stretch of warm weather, a blast of very cold air is expected to come in for the weekend.
The NPS also determined that 70 percent of the Yoshinos have reached the peduncle elongation stage as of today, March 8. That’s the fourth of the six stages they track.
Here’s their press release issued this afternoon:
Using recent temperature data, the current progression of the blooming phases, and the weather forecast for the next seven days, the National Park Service is forecasting that March 19-22 will be the start of the peak bloom period for the cherry blossoms. Last week, the National Park Service projected the peak bloom would start between March 14 and 17; the colder than originally forecast temperatures predicted for this weekend have prompted the date change.
Peak bloom occurs when 70% of the Yoshino cherry trees, the most abundant of the 12 species around the Tidal Basin and East Potomac Park, are in bloom. Once in bloom, the flowers can last four to 10 days, depending on weather conditions. Additional varieties of trees bloom later than the Yoshinos. For example, the start of the peak bloom period for the Kwanzan trees, the second most abundant variety, is currently projected for April 11.
More to Explore
If you enjoyed this post, you might also find these of interest:
- NPS Says that DC’s Cherry Blossoms Reached Peak Bloom Today: March 25
- National Park Service has Announced Their First Peak Bloom Prediction for 2017
- Washington Post’s Capital Weather Gang Have Posted their First Peak Bloom Prediction for 2017
- DC’s Cherry Blossoms Reach Peak Bloom for 2022
- National Park Service Peak Bloom Prediction for 2022
- NPS Issues Initial Cherry Blossom Peak Bloom Prediction for 2021
Thanks for the daily photos and updates! They are so helpful for those of us living out of town. And beautiful!
FYI: When I copy and paste your URL, the title comes up as
2016 Cherry Blossom Watch Washington DC (not 2017)
You’re welcome, and thanks for the heads up. I believed I’ve found the problem and have now fixed it. Thanks for letting me know.
Is this the Susan that will be visiting next week?
Yes. Why do you ask?
There is probably more than one Susan visiting next week!
I suspect you might be right! 🙂