Cherry Blossom Watch Update: February 28, 2017

There’s going to be a flurry of activity over the coming days, with new peak bloom predictions and the trees racing towards the bloom.

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.

RELATED:
Latest Updates on the 2024 Bloom
Peak Bloom Forecasts in Detail

Expect a flurry of news over the next couple of days. The Washington Post‘s Capital Weather Gang have said they will post their first peak bloom prediction later today. The National Park Service will announce theirs at a press conference tomorrow. And the warm weather has the trees racing through their development, with the indicator tree even starting to flower.

As we wrap up the meteorological winter, February is closing out as one for the record books in terms of temperatures, averaging over 8 degrees above normal. We’ve seen weather more typical of May. And while we can expect a little see-sawing coming up, it seems we can also expect March to be much warmer than normal overall.

DecemberJanuaryFebruaryMarchPeak Bloom Date
2023-24+3.8+2.3+4.4+9.4March 17
2022-23-1.6+7.7+6.8+1.5ˤMarch 23
2021-22+5.9-2.9+2.6+5.0March 21
2020-21+1.7+2.6-1.2+4.2March 28
2019-20+2.4+6.4+4.8+7.3*March 20
2018-19+3.8+1.2+3.2+0.0April 1
2017-18-0.5-0.3+6.3-3.2April 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+4.0-0.4-8.7-1.5April 10
2013-14+2.6-3.8-1.2-3.9April 10
2012-13+5.9+4.3-0.7-3.0April 9
2011-12+4.9+4.7+5.3+10March 20
2010-11--1.3+3.6-0.9March 29
Data sources: National Weather Service / National Park Service.
ˤ = partial month, in progress
* = up until peak bloom

All that means an early bloom. Perhaps even one challenging. The current record for peak bloom is March 15 (1990).

Right now, the trees are in quite a spread of stages. Some are still in the first stage (green buds). Others are in the third stage (extension of florets). There’s even a handful pushing ahead to stage 4 (peduncle elongation).

Could Frost Cause Problems?

Several people have asked whether frost would be a problem.

The answer is: potentially, yes. In the right (or wrong, if you will) mix of circumstances, it can damage or even halt the bloom. Frost hasn’t ever actually stopped Washington DC’s cherry blossoms from blooming in the 105 years they’ve been there, but it remains a possibility.

It might even be more of an issue this year. One of the consequences of such an early bloom is that it’s still very possible for us to see frost. In this area, there’s still a good chance of frost all through March–in a normal year, anyway.

If we do get frost, the effect that it has on the cherry blossoms depends on what stage they’re at. While they’re wrapped tight, it’s not much of an issue. But they’re now entering stages where they are vulnerable to frost and freezing. The best we can do is cross our fingers.

Photos of the Cherry Blossoms Around the Tidal Basin This Morning

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - February 28, 2017

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - February 28, 2017

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - February 28, 2017

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - February 28, 2017

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - February 28, 2017

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - February 28, 2017

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - February 28, 2017

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - February 28, 2017

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - February 28, 2017

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - February 28, 2017

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - February 28, 2017

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - February 28, 2017

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - February 28, 2017

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - February 28, 2017

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - February 28, 2017

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - February 28, 2017

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - February 28, 2017

Indicator Tree

The indicator tree hasn’t changed much since yesterday. It has flowers, but it’s a relatively small number. Most of the buds are in the puffy white stage. But very warm weather over the next couple of days is likely to make them pop.

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - February 28, 2017

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - February 28, 2017

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - February 28, 2017

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - February 28, 2017

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - February 28, 2017

Jefferson Memorial Scaffolding

If you’re heading into town and looking to take some photos of the monuments, just a heads up that there’s some scaffolding in the Jefferson Memorial. It’s not much, and it’s actually quite well hidden, but it’s on the eastern side of the front portico between the columns. It’s not very prominent if you’re taking photos across the Tidal Basin towards the sunrise behind the Jefferson Memorial.

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - February 28, 2017

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - February 28, 2017