Spring Weather’s Impact on DC’s Cherry Blossoms

 

The National Park Service announced yesterday that DC’s world famous Yoshino cherry blossoms along the Tidal Basin reached stage three, of six, on the way to reaching peak bloom.  That means the blossoms are in the “extension of florets” stage.  Stage one or when “Green Buds” become visible was reached on March 11, with stage two “Florets visible” having arrived March 16.  The warm weather during the upcoming week will help the blossoms get closer to reaching “peak bloom.”

The cherry blossoms are on track to reach peak bloom on or just ahead of the April average.  The National Park Service still expects peak bloom to occur between April 2 and April 5.  However, they might have to move up those dates given the mild weather on tap this week with highs in the 70s expected in the DC Metro Area on Thursday and Friday.  The Nation’s Capital will flirt with 80° on Friday for the first time this year.  By comparison, DC’s first 80° of 2020 occurred on March 20.

“Peak bloom” occurs when 70% of the blossoms are open and typically last for a few days.  Weather plays a key role in how long peak bloom lasts.  The worst kinds of weather for peak bloom are windy conditions or very warm temperatures. 

The earliest peak bloom was on March 15, 1990.  That was during a five-day stretch DC experienced record warmth with daily highs in the 80s, more characteristic of June.  By comparison, the latest the cherry blossoms have reached peak bloom was on April 18, 1958.  That’s because February and March 1958 were cold and very snowy in the Nation’s Capital. 

More recently, Washingtonians experienced colder and snowier than average February and March’s in both 2014 and 2015.  That contributed to a relatively late peak bloom of April 10 in both years.  When the buds are developing on the cherry trees, temperatures in the 20s for any length of time can damage them.  Such was the case in March 2017 when, according to the National Park Service, “...a late frost that occurred between March 14 and March 16 caused roughly half of the blossoms to be lost.” 

Following DC’s warmest February on record in 2017, the cherry blossoms were well on the way to blooming in early-to-mid March 2017.  That’s why the cold weather in mid-March 2017 was so damaging.  Freezing weather is a significant concern once the buds have developed on the trees.  Fortunately for DC Area residents and tourists alike, the cherry blossoms haven’t had any complications this March on the way to reaching peak bloom.