We’ll have to wait a little longer for this year’s cherry blossoms. The peak bloom days have been pushed back to March 27 through March 31, the National Park Service said Monday.
That’s a whole 10 days later than originally predicted.
NPS said it was necessary to push back the peak period because of a combination of how the blooms are progressing and cooler temperatures forecasted this week in D.C.
The peak bloom delay could mean great news for the thousands of people who come to the District every spring for the National Cherry Blossom Festival.
This year, it kicks off on Saturday, March 24. This means the peak period will take place during the festival, which wasn’t going to be the case with the original peak bloom days of March 17 to March 20.
Peak bloom occurs when 70 percent of the Yoshino cherry trees around the Tidal Basin are in bloom. Once peak bloom is reached, the blossoms can remain on the trees from four to 10 days.
