Joelle Fredman
WMAL.com
WASHINGTON — (WMAL) It is possible that the cherry blossoms just won’t hit peak bloom this year.
“We’re dealing with really unprecedented situations with the cherry blossoms,” National Mall spokesman Mike Litterst said. “We got so close to peak bloom, we had that record warm in February, and then all of a sudden in the last couple of days winter has come roaring back.”
Litterst said he is concerned that the nighttime temperatures for the next three nights, which are supposed to hit below 27 degrees, might damage the blossoms.
If it gets lower than 24 degrees, 90 percent of the blossoms could be lost. Peak bloom is when 70 percent of the blossoms are in bloom.
“There’s a possibility that there could be enough damage or enough of the blossoms could die that we’re not able to get to 70 percent,” Litterst said.
The National Mall has a record of peak blooms dating back to 1991, and there has never been a year without a peak.
The peak bloom is still on target for March 19-22, though Litterst said the dates will be reassessed in a few days.
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