Cherry blossoms in D.C. ready to peak

The National Park Service declared that Washington’s cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin reached their penultimate stage of development on Saturday, meaning peaking bloom should occur within the next several days.

Even though temperatures have been cooler than normal for most of the past 10 days, the blossom buds hit Stage 5 of 6 at their third-earliest date on record since 2004. The exceptionally warm February and start to March pushed the blossoms through their first four stages at near-record haste.

The blossoms are at Stage 5 out of 6, known as “puffy white” — meaning most of the flowers are just about to open up. Some trees are flowering and photographers at the Tidal Basin have shared beautiful views.

Less than 24 hours after reaching Stage 5, the coldest air in a month moved over the D.C. area Sunday morning and temperatures dipped into the upper 20s; at Reagan National Airport, just south of the Tidal Basin, the low was 29 degrees. Fortunately, exposed buds and early bloomers can withstand these temperatures. Had it dropped below 28 degrees for more than a few hours, they would have been harmed.

Temperatures are forecast to drop into the upper 20s and low 30s again Monday and Tuesday mornings, which may slow the blossoms’ progression through this second-to-last stage. But both days and nights will warm up midweek, with lows rising well above freezing and highs moderating into the 60s and 70s. It’s probable that peak bloom will occur between Tuesday and Friday.

The National Park Service declares peak bloom when 70 percent of cherry tree buds are flowering. Once peak bloom occurs, the blossoms can remain on the trees for another week or so if the weather is mild and winds are light.

Through Thursday, weather will be generally favorable for seeing the blossoms.

Some more substantial showers and gustier breezes are possible by late Friday into Saturday morning, but next weekend should be pretty nice and some flowers should remain.

Assuming peak bloom occurs between Tuesday and Friday, it would be seven to 10 days ahead of average.

Because of climate change and rising temperatures, the average peak bloom date has advanced from around April 5 to March 31 over the past century.