WASHINGTON — The National Park Service predicts the cherry blossoms’ peak bloom dates to be April 11- 14 this year.
The park service announced the prediction during a news conference Tuesday morning.
Mike Litterst, NPS spokesman holding the sealed envelope w/ peak bloom date prediction @wtop @cherryblossfest pic.twitter.com/ybAIPiPHGQ
— Jamie Forzato (@jamieforzato) March 3, 2015
The peak bloom typically occurs around April 4, but the park service said earlier this week that it could happen later this year because of the weather’s impact on the trees.
“Cold weather from January to February — that’s really making us behind past years,” said Michael Stachowicz, a turf management specialist with the National Park Service.
In 2014, peak bloom was April 10. It happened on March 20 back in 2012.
The 2015 Cherry Blossom Festival runs from March 20 through April 12.
Read more on the festival’s website.
