Cherry blossoms bloom at a record pace in Washington (USA)

The exceptionally warm weather in March this year caused cherry blossoms in Washington, DC, USA to bloom on March 17.

American cherry blossoms bloom early. (Source: Washington Post)

This is the second time cherry blossoms in the US have bloomed early at a record rate in more than 100 years, showing the growing impact of human-caused climate change.

On social media on the afternoon of March 17, the National Park Service described the splendid spring scenes with cherry blossoms in full bloom: "In full bloom. Record season!".

According to the Washington Post , the flowers bloomed at their peak in Washington, DC, about two weeks earlier than usual. March 15, 1990, was recorded as the earliest cherry blossom bloom since 1921.

This year's peak blooming period comes too early, before the official opening of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which is scheduled to last from March 20 to April 14.

Peak bloom, the final stage of the six-stage bud growth cycle, occurs when 70% of cherry trees are in bloom. The buds go through this cycle in just 15 days, faster than any other year in at least two decades.

As March temperatures have risen over the past century, the average date for peak flowering has moved about six days earlier, to March 30 instead of April 4.

In each of the past five years, cherry blossoms have bloomed before March 29. In 2023, it was recorded on March 23, a week earlier. The average temperature this March was 9 degrees above normal – the second warmest on record. Temperatures have not dropped below freezing since February 26.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/hoa-anh-dao-no-ro-ky-luc-tai-washington-my-264682.html