Sunday's peak bloom in the Tidal Basin was about two weeks earlier than usual, tying 2000 for the second-earliest bloom on record. In observations up to 1921, only March 15, 1990 was the earliest date for flowering. This year's bloom peak was so early that it was even earlier than the official start of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which runs from March 20 to April 14. Some of the early predictions.
Peak flowering, the final stage of the six-stage bud development cycle, occurs when 70% of the cherry tree has bloomed. The buds went through this cycle in just 15 days, faster than in any year in at least the past 20 years.
Early blooming is perfect for the latest trends.
As March temperatures have warmed over the past 100 years, the average peak bloom date has moved forward by about 6 days, from April 4 to March 30. In each of the past five times, including this year, he has peaked before March 29th. Last year it was March 23rd — more than a week early.
Temperatures in March this year were on average more than 9 degrees higher than normal, making it the second-highest temperature on record. Freezing temperatures have not occurred since February 26th.
Mild weather brought thousands of people to the Tidal Basin Saturday and Sunday as the blooms reached their peak and temperatures rose to the mid-60s to low 70s, about 10 to 15 degrees above normal.
Groups gathered to get a glimpse of the popular tree, known as Stumpy, before it is removed as part of a multi-year plan to repair the seawall, which has deteriorated since its construction. Parts of the sea wall have sunk as much as 5 feet, while rising sea levels, another indicator of climate change, are causing tides to rise, the National Park Service said. When Stumpy last reached its peak bloom, flood waters surrounded it.
Elsewhere along Basin's 3.4-mile trail Saturday, brides and grooms took advantage of cloudless skies and a gentle breeze to take photos under a blooming cherry tree near the Jefferson Memorial.
Across the street from the Jeffersons, a crowd had gathered for a gender reveal party. A pink glow exploded under the cherry tree, foreshadowing the birth of a baby girl. Her scattered sparkles were like cherry blossom petals swaying in the wind.
Almost every cherry tree in the Tidal Basin attracted people to take selfies and provide shade for family picnics.
If the weather forecast is good, we might be able to enjoy cherry blossom viewing for about another week. Rainy and windy weather can cause petals to fall and shorten the peak bloom period, but this week is expected to be mostly dry.
There may be some strong winds blowing flower petals on Tuesday, but winds are expected to ease after that.
As the climate tends to get colder, the flowering period should be extended. (Very warm climates tend to shorten the petals.) High temperatures in the 50s and lows in the 30s will keep the flowers for a long time, unless there is an unexpected hard freeze that causes the petals to wilt. It should help prolong it.