Monday Cherry Blossom Updates - April 9th

Throughout the blooming of the cherry blossoms and the National Cherry Blossom Festival, Urban Atlas will be giving updates of the status of the Cherry Blossoms, as well as some of the day's pictures.

The cherry blossoms are going strong! Will they stay photo ready through this coming weekend?

While today (Monday) was another below average temperature day, like much of March and April thus far, it's actually great for cherry blossom viewing.

Five days in and the cherry blossoms still look spectacular! Cold temperatures are keeping the flowers in place, slowing the emergence of the leaves that will ultimately replace the blossoms. Temperatures in the 70s and 80s by week's end will certainly hasten that process. pic.twitter.com/G56Xnvlv18
— National Mall NPS (@NationalMallNPS) April 9, 2018

According to the Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang (CWG), there is a realistic chance that we get another weekend of beautiful cherry blossom viewing - and the weather is supposed to get warmer soon too!

GORGEOUS photos of the #cherryblossoms, which hit peak bloom last Thursday! If we're lucky they could stay photo-ready through this weekend. https://t.co/FOX2tI7AtC
— Capital Weather Gang (@capitalweather) April 9, 2018

Cherry blossoms vs. magnolias

For a humorous take on how to identify a cherry blossom tree, and especially how to differentiate it from a magnolia, the Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang has put together a video for you:

Cherry blossoms hit peak bloom Thursday (more info: https://wapo.st/2HdXL7q) and they'll be spectacular for several days. But, consider, many D.C. residents and tourists don't know the difference...