Peak Cherry Blossoms Delayed Again

/
Snowmen in front of U.S. Capitol, March 21, 2018 - E

Snowmen in front of U.S. Capitol, March 21, 2018 - E

Despite initial predictions that the peak of the Cherry Blossoms in Washington DC would be first in mid-March, then in late March to the first few days of April, they are expected now to peak closer to mid-April.  Both of the major forecasters, the National Park Service and the Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang (CWG) now project the peak bloom window to be April 8 to 12. The CWG also expects the peak day to be April 10. Peak bloom is defined as when 70 percent of the cherry blossoms along the Tidal Basin are showing their colors.

The delays have moved what was expected to be a super-early bloom in mid-march to a late blooming towards mid-April. For any given year, the most likely time to reach peak bloom is between the last week of March and the first week of April. The reason for the early first prediction and then all the delays is that while the Washington DC weather in February was warmer than usual, March has been very cold. Washington DC had a very late snowstorm where much of the city got 4-6 inches on March 21st!

Hopefully this will be the last revision this year, and people can start making their plans to see the beautiful cherry trees in bloom!