PEAK BLOOM! PEAK BLOOM! PEAK BLOOM! Did we say PEAK BLOOM?!
The blossoms are opening & putting on a splendid spring spectacle. See you soon.
🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸! https://t.co/h04Gu0ksc1 #CherryBlossom #BloomWatch #WashingtonDC pic.twitter.com/ElYKjPB3UH— National Mall NPS (@NationalMallNPS) March 17, 2024
The cherry blossom trees along the Tidal Basin and the National Mall in Washington, DC are hitting peak bloom, three days before the Cherry Blossom Festival is supposed to begin and nearly two weeks before the expected date of bloom peak. This marks the second earliest peak bloom recorded since 1921: In 1990, blossoms peaked on March 15th.
With the region staying above freezing temperatures since February 26th, the blossoms started their emergence early again, continuing a long-term trend that shifted expected peaks from early April to late March, according to data collected by the EPA. Besides ruining the Cherry Blossom Festival, which will run from March 20th to April 14th, early and unexpected blooms will take an economic toll on local businesses as tourists will cancel sightseeing trips. Well done, climate change!