The blossoms reached their fifth stage out of six, and peak bloom is likely between March 26 and 28.



D.C.’s famed cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin are racing toward peak bloom, which is poised to occur during the second half of the coming week. On Sunday, the National Park Service said the blossom buds reached their penultimate stage, puffy blossoms. The buds are now flowering and will open a little more with each passing day.

Blossom viewing will improve as this week progresses, and the weather should be excellent — sunny and mild — by the time peak bloom occurs.

After a slow start to the bloom season, the blossom buds bolted through the first five stages in just 12 days, a near-record rate of development.



The National Park Service will declare the peak when at least 70 percent of the blossoms are flowering around the Tidal Basin. Assuming it occurs before March 29, it will mark the sixth straight year with an earlier-than-normal peak.

On average, peak bloom occurs about three to five days after the current stage, meaning this year’s peak date will probably be between March 26 and 28 — Wednesday through Friday of this week.