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If two well-awaited predictions are to be believed, this year the Yoshino cherry trees around the Tidal Basin will achieve peak bloom in early April. The National Park Service’s official forecast, announced on Wednesday, puts this arboreal period for 2019 from April 3 to 6, while that of the Capital Weather Gang, published just Tuesday, puts it from April 1 to 5.
For the Blossoms #BloomWatch #CherryBlossomDC @CherryBlossFest pic.twitter.com/6Mjo6ImEzZ
— National Mall NPS (@NationalMallNPS) March 6, 2019
NEW: Capital Weather Gang's exclusive cherry blossom forecast: Peak bloom in Washington around April 3: https://t.co/MqHB9knsfD
— Capital Weather Gang (@capitalweather) March 5, 2019
The park service defines peak bloom as when 70 percent of the Yoshino cherry trees are open, and it varies each year according to the weather. It comes after an earlier blooming period, defined as the time between when 20 percent of the blossoms are open until the leaves emerge. There is also an even earlier green-bud stage, starting to be seen already.
Even the cherry trees are bursting with anticipation for tomorrow's peak bloom announcement! The Yoshino trees reached green bud today, the first stage on the way to peak bloom. When will we get there? Tune in tomorrow morning as we announce the predicted date! @CherryBlossFest pic.twitter.com/KDbU4iXOGp
— National Mall NPS (@NationalMallNPS) March 5, 2019
This year’s Cherry Blossom Festival will run from March 20 through April 14, and it includes a series of special events. Generally, the festival attracts well over 1 million people every year.