Wintry mix not expected to impact cherry blossoms’ peak bloom date, park service says

Snow is no problem for the cherry blossoms. Peak bloom is still scheduled for between March 27 and March 31. (WTOP/Kristi King)
Snow is no problem for the cherry blossoms, pictured here March 19, 2018.  Peak bloom is still scheduled for between March 27 and March 31. (WTOP/Kristi King)
Snow is no problem for the cherry blossoms. Peak bloom is still scheduled for between March 27 and March 31. (WTOP/Kristi King)
Snow is no problem for the cherry blossoms, pictured here March 19, 2018. Peak bloom is still scheduled for between March 27 and March 31. (WTOP/Kristi King)
"We're a couple warm days from reaching full bloom for the 'indicator' tree. Once the 'indicator' tree is in blossom, that tells us we're about a week away from Peak Bloom," National Mall Spokesman Mike Litterst said. (Courtesy NPS/Mike Litterst)
“We’re a couple warm days from reaching full bloom for the ‘indicator’ tree. Once the ‘indicator’ tree is in blossom, that tells us we’re about a week away from Peak Bloom,” National Mall Spokesman Mike Litterst said. The ‘indicator’ tree is seen here on March 19, 2018. (Courtesy NPS/Mike Litterst)
The Bloomin' Junior Ranger Station near the Jefferson Memorial has interactive activities for children who can learn about the cherry trees and Japanese culture to earn a Bloomin' Junior Ranger badge. (WTOP/Kristi King)
The Bloomin’ Junior Ranger Station near the Jefferson Memorial has interactive activities for children who can learn about the cherry trees and Japanese culture to earn a Bloomin’ Junior Ranger badge. (WTOP/Kristi King)
The Cherry Blossoms are still in the process of blooming and look pretty as of March 18. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
The Cherry Blossoms are still in the process of blooming and look pretty as of March 18. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
 The peak bloom dates are still set for March 27-31. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
The peak bloom dates are still set for March 27-31. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
The Opening Ceremony for the Cherry Blossom Festival has also been moved back one day to make room for the March for Our Lives protest. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
The Opening Ceremony for the Cherry Blossom Festival has also been moved back one day to make room for the March for Our Lives protest. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
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Snow is no problem for the cherry blossoms. Peak bloom is still scheduled for between March 27 and March 31. (WTOP/Kristi King)
Snow is no problem for the cherry blossoms. Peak bloom is still scheduled for between March 27 and March 31. (WTOP/Kristi King)
"We're a couple warm days from reaching full bloom for the 'indicator' tree. Once the 'indicator' tree is in blossom, that tells us we're about a week away from Peak Bloom," National Mall Spokesman Mike Litterst said. (Courtesy NPS/Mike Litterst)
The Bloomin' Junior Ranger Station near the Jefferson Memorial has interactive activities for children who can learn about the cherry trees and Japanese culture to earn a Bloomin' Junior Ranger badge. (WTOP/Kristi King)
The Cherry Blossoms are still in the process of blooming and look pretty as of March 18. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
 The peak bloom dates are still set for March 27-31. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
The Opening Ceremony for the Cherry Blossom Festival has also been moved back one day to make room for the March for Our Lives protest. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)

WASHINGTON — Snowy weather forecast to hit the Metro area this week might throw lots of work and school schedules out or whack, but not the expected peak bloom date for D.C.’s iconic cherry trees.

Peak bloom still is expected to occur on the Tidal Basin sometime between March 27 and March 31, according to the National Park Service, which takes care of the trees. Peak bloom is when 70 percent of the Yoshino cherry trees around the Tidal Basin are in full bloom.

“Certainly we’ll continue to look at the near term and the long-term forecast especially with snow coming over the next couple of days, or a wintery mix,” National Mall spokesman Mike Litterst said. “So, depending on that — depending on what the trees tell us as we look at them, we may change the projected peak bloom again based on all that data.”

As of Monday, many Tidal Basin cherry tree buds were in the late stage of phase two. “That’s two out of six — where six is peak bloom,” Litterst said.

It’s only when buds are more fully developed that they risk being damaged by temperatures at or below 29 to 27 degrees.

“Snow alone is not cause for damage, especially at this phase of the bloom watch,” Litterst said.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival currently is underway through April 15.

The Tidal Basin Welcome Area features information tents, food, and souvenir sales. Also in the Tidal Basin area, the National Park service offers guided tours talking about the history of the cherry blossoms.

The Bloomin’ Junior Ranger Station near the Jefferson Memorial has interactive activities for children who can learn about the cherry trees and Japanese culture to earn a Bloomin’ Junior Ranger badge.

Kristi King

Kristi King is a veteran reporter who has been working in the WTOP newsroom since 1990. She covers everything from breaking news to consumer concerns and the latest medical developments.

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