Washington’s cherry blossoms forecast to reach peak bloom March 28-31

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - The National Park Service revealed their prediction on Thursday for when Washington, D.C.‘s iconic cherry trees will reach peak bloom.

The agency announced that March 28-31 are their projected dates for the peak bloom period. Peak bloom is defined as the time when 70 percent of the trees along the capital city’s Tidal Basin are flowering.

The Yoshino cherry trees attract visitors from around the world to Washington every spring.

“It’s really Washington’s grandest springtime tradition,” said Mike Litterst, a spokesperson for the Park Service. “It’s been well over 100 years now. And I think a lot of it has to do with it’s that arrival of spring, or at least the promise today, that spring is not too far behind, when the temperatures are going to warm up and we’ll get some color around the city and around the Tidal Basin again.”

There are about 2,500 cherry trees around the tidal basin. The trees were gifted to the U.S. by Japan in 1912.

The blooming period typically lasts several days and does vary based on weather. The National Park Services says that cool, calm weather can extend the length of the bloom, while a rainy, windy day can end it abruptly. A late frost can prevent the trees from blooming at all.

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