02-04-2025
Peak bloom cut short for Tidal Basin cherry blossoms due to DC storm
WASHINGTON () — Peak bloom has been cut short for the District's signature pink and white blossoms.
In on the X platform Tuesday, the National Park Service (NPS) said Monday night's storm blew many cherry blossoms off the trees, which had just on Friday, March 28.
'But don't worry, when we got to work this morning on April 1, we started gathering the fallen petals and should have them back on the trees soon,' the NPS joked in the post.
Metro reports busiest Saturday since 2019 amid peak bloom, warm temps
'I think it's kind of bad timing,' Leanna Booth told DC News Now while walking around the Tidal Basin on Tuesday. 'I mean, it's kind of nice, like it's pretty, and we know that the cherry blossoms don't last very long, but it's kind of a bummer that right at the end of the season, we got the windstorm.'
The National Park Service predicted peak bloom, which varies annually depending on the weather and occurs when 70% of the Yoshino cherry blossoms are open, sometime between March 28 and 31.
The full blooming period from several days to up to two weeks, depending on the weather.
'They're kind of naked a little bit,' said Booth. '…[T]here's like still little patches, but it's pretty bare.'
Though many of the beloved cherry trees look a bit more bare than usual, Tidal Basin visitors say they're still enjoying the blooms and making the most of what's left.
One couple visiting the blossoms on Tuesday even flew in from Southern California.
'We enjoyed the storm, and the thunder, and the lightning, and the rain,' said Mary Gillette. 'It was very exciting…but we have never seen it before. So, we're happy with the petals. I don't know, maybe it was more spectacular yesterday, but it's pretty nice today.'
'No, no, it's not disappointing,' said Christine Windsor. 'But I will come back; I'll come back a little earlier next year.'
NPS around 1.5 million people to visit the Tidal Basin over the next few weeks for the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which lasts until April 13.
For a live look at the cherry trees around the tidal basin and the blossoms that remain, click.
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