Climate advocates have recently been noting the unusually long Peak Bloom for D.C.’s Cherry Blossoms, claiming that they have been going on much longer than ‘normal’.
Why are blooms for D.C.’s Cherry Blossoms lasting so long?
According to arborist Matthew Morrison, of the National Park Service, the long bloom can first be attributed to the sudden and unseasonably warm weather of early March fueled a rapid development of the Cherry Blossom’s bloom, moving through some of the blooming stages as little as a single day! Then, almost immediately after D.C.’s Cherry Blossoms hit peak bloom on March 17th (six days earlier than expected), temps dropped overnight, creating a fridge-like preservation for the Cherry Blossoms’ blooms.
How much longer are D.C.’s Cherry Blossoms going to stay in bloom?
There is no exact date that the National Park Service has claimed will be the definite end to the Cherry Blossoms’ bloom, however, they have suggested they might last as long as another two weeks if their current state continues to be preserved as it has been! This would make it one of the longest stretches of Cherry Blossom blooms that D.C. has experienced in what could be decades, giving you ample time to check out all the best spots in D.C. to admire the Cherry Blossoms!
Naturally, the exact length of how long D.C.’s Cherry Blossoms are going to remain in bloom depends on a handful of factors, but the main factor, which we’ve mentioned earlier, is the temperature. The relatively chilly April so far has let the blooms last a few weeks longer than average, and with no jumps in temperature expected in the immediate future for D.C., we could see the blooms stick around for a few more weeks.
Other factors, such as wind, rain, and sunshine are all also going to play a factor as well, but given how it has been cloudy, cold, and wet consistently to the start of the Spring here in D.C., it doesn’t seem like any of these factors are going to spoil the fun.