. @CherryBlossFest dance with @BluOpal_M pic.twitter.com/Em4XqC0ghe
— Kristi King (@kingWTOP) April 2, 2018
WASHINGTON — After cold snaps, March snow showers and gusty April winds, cherry blossom peak bloom is finally here.
About 70 percent of the Yoshino cherry trees that line the Tidal Basin in D.C. are now in full bloom, the National Park Service said.
Mother Nature “put us through the wringer this year — roller coaster temps, wind storms, late-season snow — but she always comes through!” the park service tweeted Thursday.
The best time to view the iconic pink and white blossoms is over the next four to seven days, the National Park Service said.
However, under certain conditions the trees can hold their blossoms for up to two weeks. Continued cool temperatures would actually be beneficial to blossom-viewing because the chilly temps will slow the transition from flowers to leaves, park service spokesman Mike Litterst said in a statement.
The peak bloom date of April 5 is two days later than the average date of April 3. Last year, the cherry blossoms reached peak bloom on March 25.
This year’s peak bloom date shifted around over the past month. Initially projected for March 17-20, it was pushed back twice because of colder-than-average spring temperatures.
