Washingtonians and tourists alike have reason to celebrate as the city's famed cherry blossoms hit stage three of their blooming process, according to the National Park Service (NPS). This milestone marks the halfway point to "peak bloom," when the Tidal Basin becomes a sea of pink and white. WUSA9 reports that the blossoms achieved this stage on Friday, much quicker than in previous years, signaling a potentially early blooming season.
Charting a rapid pace, the cherry trees started with stage one buds on March 2 and advanced to stage two just three days later on March 5—the swiftest progression in two decades, as mentioned by WUSA9. Despite concerns about strong winds this past Sunday and Monday, the NPS confirmed that the progress to stage three, which refers to the extension of the florets, remained undamaged and well on track.
The National Park Service also notes the distinct stages the cherry blossoms undergo before the revered peak bloom, outlined by WJLA. Stage one begins with a green color in the buds, moving on to florets visible in stage two, followed by the current stage three with extended florets. Anticipation builds as the blossoms move towards stages four and five, culminating in peduncle elongation and the peak puffy white display.
As these delicate buds approach stages four and five, vulnerability to cold air becomes a concern. In 2017, a plunge in temperatures paired with snow caused significant damage to those blossoms that had reached stage four. On the flip side, maintaining warm conditions and gentle breezes could see the cherry blossoms hanging on for up to a week after reaching peak bloom. The Washington Post highlighted the trend towards earlier blooms, driven by human-caused climate change, with peak bloom advancing from its historical April 4 average to March 30 over the last century. Last year, the blossoms hit their peak on March 23, well ahead of the average and aligning with recent trends for earlier blooms.
This year's crescendo of blooms is anticipated to align with the kickoff of the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival, which is set to run from March 20 through April 14. The current estimation is for peak bloom to occur between March 23 and 26, setting the stage for a festival surrounded by nature's splendors, as per The Washington Post. As the capital braces for this floral spectacle, further weather updates will be eagerly awaited as the cherry blossoms continue their hasty journey to full bloom.
