Latest DC Cherry Blossom Peak Forecast 2016

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Predicting the peak -- and fleeting -- time for the blooms on the beautiful cherry blossom trees that ring the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C., is always a guessing game.

After two revisions this year, the National Park Service said the peak would begin March 23 and March 24.

But, Cherry Blossom Watch, a website devoted to the tourist-drawing delicate white blossoms, says that the blooms will start their peak late today, March 24, and prime viewing will continue through the weekend.

The annual National Cherry Blossom Festival got under way March 20, with the opening ceremony planned for this Saturday, March 26. The festival runs through April 17, and includes a kite festival, parade, fireworks show and more.

Events during the festival include:

Opening Ceremony: 5 – 6:30 p.m. March 26, at the Warner Theatre, 513 13th Street, NW. Free but advance ticketing is required. There will be a $5 registration fee when tickets are claimed. Tickets are currently sold out, if last-minute spaces are available, walk-ins will be accepted at 4:45 PM on the day of the event.

Family Day: Free activities from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. March 26 at the National Building Museum. Activities include: folding origami masterpieces, designing a memorial for the National Mall, constructing a tatebanko diorama, meeting DuAro (Kawasaki’s robot), trying on traditional Japanese clothing and learning more about the National Park Service’s Centennial celebration.

Blossom Kite Festival: Join us on April 2 for the Blossom Kite Festival. Celebrate the 50th anniversary of kite flying on the National Mall.

Waterfront Fireworks Festival: Enjoy live music and entertainment for all ages preceding the Fireworks Show at 8:30 p.m. on April 9.

National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade: 10 a.m. to noon on April 16 along Constitution Avenue from 7th to 17th streets, NW. Grandstand seating tickets are $20. Standing along the parade route from Constitution Avenue between 9th and 15th streets, NW is FREE and open to the public. Arrive early for the best views.

Parade performers will include: Cast members from the award-winning musical "Jersey Boys, pop singer Tiffany,The Voice contestant Sisaundra Lewis, R&B Grammy-nominated artist and DC native Raheem DeVaughn, Miss America 2016 Betty Cantrell and the Washington Redskins cheerleaders.

Sakura Matsuri—Japanese Street Festival: Set for Saturday, April 16, from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Held the same day as the parade, this rain-or-shine event brings performances to four stages. The new location for 2016 is the Capitol Riverfront neighborhood at M Street and New Jersey Avenue SE, across the street from the Navy Yard-Ballpark Metro station.

You can check on cherry blossom activity via the "Cherry Blossom Cam."

The peak bloom date is defined as the day when 70 percent of the Yoshino Cherry blossoms are open, the park service notes. Peak bloom varies annually depending on weather conditions.

Anytime is a good time to see the blossoms. But festival organizers warn that visitors should be prepared for heavier crowds on weekends and when the trees reach their peak blooming period. There is no guarantee, but there are often fewer people during the week, early in the morning, and in late afternoon/early evening.

Where to Go: There are several visitors' centers in the Washington, D.C., area where you can map out your destinations and learn more about events planned during the festival.

And there are many ways to see the blossoms: on foot, by pedicab tour, boat cruise, guided photo safaris and more. Check out the tours section of the festival website for options. The Cherry Blossom Shuttle ($1) runs from the Thomas Jefferson Memorial around Haines Point and has 11 stops along the way.

Take the Train: Veterans of the event say don't drive there. There's no Metro stop that's especially close to the Tidal Basin, but your best bets are the Smithsonian (Orange and Blue lines) or L'Enfant Plaza (Orange, Blue, Yellow and Green lines) stations.

Parking: Event-goers may use ParkNow to reserve and pay for a parking space in advance, or use Parkmobile to pay for on-street parking through the app. Click here to learn more.

The 2016 Festival commemorates the 104th anniversary of the gift of the cherry blossom trees and the enduring friendship between the United States and Japan. Clickhere for the latest updates, and here for a full list of Festival events.

You can support the work that goes into the festival byordering merchandise online.

Finding a Hotel: Coming to the festival from out of town? Here's a collection of DC hotels in the area to choose from in booking a room.

Here's more about the science behind the cherry blossom peak bloom dates, according to the National Park Service:

• The peak bloom date is defined as the day when 70 percent of the Yoshino Cherry (Prunus x yedoensis) blossoms are open. Peak bloom varies annually depending on weather conditions. The most likely time to reach peak bloom is between the last week of March and the first week of April.
• The Yoshino trees typically bloom for a period of several days. The length of the blooming period depends on weather conditions. 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.
• Forecasting peak bloom is almost impossible more than 10 days in advance. The cherry trees' blossom development is dependent on weather conditions, which are inherently variable. National Park Service horticulturists monitor bud development and report the status of the blossoms.

See more info.

»Photo of cherry blossom trees courtesy of the National Park Service