This year’s winter weather is causing whiplash to more than just Washingtonians—it’s confusing D.C.’s cherry blossoms, too!
According to a report by WTOP, January has been the third-warmest recorded with days averaging a temperature of 47.4 degrees, closer to temperatures seen in the area during March or November. The warmest January on record is 1950 when it was 47.9 degrees on average.
Now, the cherry blossoms are starting to take notice! There are inklings of buds around the Tidal Basin, and snowdrops have already begun to emerge in some areas.
However, D.C. still isn’t expected to bloom with cherry blossoms any time soon, as warmer temperatures through February and March would be more influential on when they would bloom.
Over the last 10 years, the earliest peak bloom was March 20 in 2020 and 2012.
The 2023 National Cherry Blossom Festival will run from March 20 through April 16.