Cherry Blossom 2016 Peak Bloom Dates Released

PHOTO: NASA/Ed Campion, nasa.gov

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WASHINGTON, DC -- Get ready: The National Park Service has announced what it believes will be the peak bloom dates for this year's famed cherry blossoms in the nation's capital.

The peak bloom dates are Thursday, March 31, through Sunday, April 3. Last year, peak bloom was later, April 10.

The annual National Cherry Blossom Festival takes place this year March 20 – April 17.

The festival includes three weeks and four weekends of events featuring diverse and creative programming promoting traditional and contemporary arts and culture, natural beauty, and community spirit.

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. Click here for the latest updates, and here for a full list of festival events.

Here's more about the science behind the cherry blossom peak bloom dates, from 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. Extraordinary warm or cool temperatures have resulted in peak bloom as early as March 15 (1990) and as late as April 18 (1958).
• The Yoshino trees typically bloom for 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.