What Does March Weather Mean for the Cherry Blossom Festival?

Looking forward to the bloom of Spring !

March has seen below average temperatures and above average snowfall in the Nation’s Capital for a third consecutive year.  That makes the warmest March on record (that came in 2012) seem like a distant memory for Washingtonians.  Through yesterday, March 2015 has been almost a full degree colder than average.  There has also been 4.9” of snow this month (at National Airport) compared to the March average of 1.3”.  Today’s high temperatures are also expected to remain roughly ten degrees colder than the average high of 58 degrees.

Although the high temperature was 73 degrees on March 17 (the warmest temperature in the Nation’s Capital since last November), the warmth was short-lived.  As cold as it’s been downtown this month, it’s been even colder in the suburbs with both Dulles and BWI Airports setting new record low temperatures on March 6 and 7.  This follows March 2014 which was the coldest March in Washington, D.C. since 1996.  March 2014 was also the snowiest March (with 12.7” at National Airport) in the Nation’s Capital since 1960 when there was 17.1”.  Last March was also the snowiest March on record at Dulles Airport when 19.8” of snow fell.

While March 2013 wasn’t as snowy as March 2014, it was 3 degrees colder than average.  Since March 2012 was 10 degrees warmer than average, that means March 2013 was 13 degrees colder than the previous March.  There are pros and cons to March being warmer or colder than average in this part of the country.  A warmer than average March usually helps the Cherry Blossoms bloom earlier – as in 2012 when they reached peak bloom on March 20.  However, warmer weather in March means allergy sufferers will see pollen earlier than they otherwise would. 

If March is colder than average, than the Cherry Blossoms don’t usually reach peak bloom until later in the season.  Such was the case last year when peak bloom didn’t come until April 10.  However, allergy sufferers had a few more weeks without symptoms because of the below average temperatures.  The U.S. Park Service expects the Cherry Blossoms to reach their peak bloom along the Tidal Basin between April 11 and April 14 this year.  Average peak bloom for the Cherry Blossoms is April 4.

Another benefit of March being colder than average for much of the United States is the relatively small amount of severe weather that’s occurred.  There actually hasn’t been a single tornado reported anywhere in the United States so far this month.  That’s compared to March 2012 when there were 154 confirmed tornadoes – roughly double the monthly average of 80 tornadoes according to NOAA.  My colleagues and I on the WUSA9 weather team will help keep you apprised of the latest weather forecasts as the month of April and the peak bloom of the Cherry Blossoms both draw closer.