WASHINGTON — Windy weather over the past couple of days knocked down trees and caused some power outages, but D.C.'s iconic cherry blossoms were able to survive the gusts. That's according to National Park Service spokesperson Mike Litterst, who said the blooms still being in early stages helped them hang on.
"Not an issue at all," said Litterist of the winds. "The buds are still nice and tight. If we were later in the bloom cycle — if we were starting to see petals, or if the blossoms were out — that's a concern for wind."
The blossoms are currently at Stage 3 with visible florets. Peak bloom is still predicted between March 23 and March 26.
"Peak bloom is still on course for all the buds," Litterst told WUSA9.
Warmer weather is on the way, though. That could accelerate when the blooms reach their peak.
"We're looking at five straight days in the 70s, which is unusual at best for this time of March. We're certainly looking at the earlier portion of that range, March 23 or so. We may take a look and see if we need to reevaluate it more than that," Litterst said.
Meanwhile, the project to repair the Tidal Basin keeps moving forward. We asked Litterst where the long-awaited repair project stands now.
"Funding's secured, contract has been issued," he said. "We will begin later this spring to start the process of shoring up the seawalls, strengthening them, putting them to bedrock, widening the pathways, raising them so they're not as impacted by the changing levels in the Tidal Basin."
Litterst said a further announcement on a timeline for those repairs, and potential impacts of the process is coming later this week.
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