DC Cherry Blossoms Peak Bloom 2018: New Date Announced

WASHINGTON, DC -- The National Park Service has officially released their projected dates for the 2018 peak bloom of the cherry blossoms in D.C., and it's going to be quite early this year if they're right.

NPS is predicting peak bloom between March 17-20 on the National Mall.

That is even earlier than the Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang's recent prediction, which chose March 25 as the most likely date, or at least sometime between March 23 and 27.

The average is at March 31, so a peak bloom between March 17-20 would be extraordinarily early.

PEAK BLOOM PROJECTED DATES ARE IN!!! We look forward to seeing the cherry trees in bloom March 17-20! #BloomWatch #CherryBlossomDC pic.twitter.com/lnGtSYcCet
— National Mall NPS (@NationalMallNPS) March 1, 2018

Peak bloom is defined as when 70 percent of cherry blossoms on the Tidal Basin are blooming.

"The most likely time to reach peak bloom is between the last week of March and the first week of April," reads the NPS website. "Extraordinary warm or cool temperatures have resulted in peak bloom as early as March 15 (1990) and as late as April 18 (1958)."

The NPS notes that predicting peak bloom is "almost impossible" more than 10 days in advance because weather conditions can have a big effect on the timing.

"The Yoshino trees typically bloom for a period of several days. The length of the blooming period depends on weather conditions," the NPS adds. "Cool, calm weather can extend the length of the bloom, and a rainy, windy day can bring an abrupt end to the ephemeral blossoms. A late frost can prevent the trees from blooming at all."

The National Cherry Blossom Festival kicks off March 20 and ends April 15.

Image via National Park Service