The iconic pink and white flowers that transform Washington, D.C. at the start of spring have officially reached their peak bloom in at least 20 years. It's one of the first such days in the region on record, and experts say that's likely to continue to change even earlier in the future.
Maximum flowering occurs at 70%. Yoshino Cherry Blossoms Planted around DC. According to the National Park Service, this usually occurs between the last week of March and the first week of April. From 2004 to 2023, most annual peaks occurred between March 25 and April 10, with a few exceptions occurring on March 20.
The service predicted on its website that this year's peak bloom would be between March 23 and March 26, but in an update Sunday, the service's National Mall and Memorial Parks posted an update on social media.
“Peak bloom! Peak bloom! Peak bloom! Did you say peak bloom?!” The agency said. “The flowers are in full bloom, creating a gorgeous spring scene.”
The agency confirmed on its website Monday that the flowers were in full bloom on March 17. But what exactly is making them open earlier? Scientists and national park officials say it all has to do with the weather.
“The timing of flower blooms varies from year to year depending on weather conditions,” the service says, adding that typical bloom times also vary depending on weather conditions. “…cool, calm weather can extend the flowering period, while rainy and windy days can abruptly stop temporary blooms. Late frosts can prevent trees from blooming at all.”
D.C.'s expected peak cherry blossom season comes just days after scientists at the Japan Meteorological Agency said cherry blossoms are blooming earlier over time due to rising global temperatures.
Daisuke Sasano, head of climate risk management at the JMA Climate Change Office, said at a briefing last week that overall global temperatures are rising. Scientists have confirmed the year 2023. hottest year on record Already in 2024 record heat.
“It is clear that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, oceans and land. Climate change is already affecting every inhabited region of the world, and human influence is contributing to many of the observed changes in weather and climate extremes.” said the announcement, citing United. National Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. “Expected extreme changes will become more frequent and intense with each additional increase in global warming.”
Sasano said that while studying samples of cherry blossom trees, called sakura in Japanese, in Tokyo, scientists found that the average start date for cherry blossoms in Japan is moving forward by about 1.2 days every decade. This rate is 'highly' correlated with average temperature, he said. Several major cities in Japan have bloomed early over the past 30 years, including Osaka, Hiroshima and Sendai, as well as Tokyo.
The earliest recorded peak in D.C. was March 15, 1990, according to the National Park Service, adding that this year marked the earliest peak in at least 20 years. This comes as D.C. saw above-average temperatures in both January and March. On February 26, Weather Underground recorded a maximum temperature of 66 degrees Fahrenheit at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, nearly 16 degrees above average.
Global temperatures are expected to continue to rise, which is expected to increase extreme weather events and impact cherry blossoms. Even if greenhouse gas emissions, the main cause of global warming, decline dramatically globally today, the emissions already in the atmosphere will continue to have an impact for decades to come.
Scientists at the non-profit organization Climate Central also said climate change is affecting flowers. In 2018, the group found that from 1931 to 1960, D.C.'s cherry blossoms bloomed on average around April 6. However, from 1981 to 2010, the average was April 1st. Like the first week of March.
Last year, the cherry blossoms stayed on the trees for a little over a week. But there are still questions about how long this year's flowers will last. The National Weather Service predicts a cold front could move into the northeastern United States early this week, bringing snow and wind gusts of up to 30 mph across the region. Cool and stillness can prolong the life of flowers, but rain and wind can spell the end.