Cherry Blossom Watch

04/13/2026

That's a wrap on the 2026 cherry blossoms. But before you go . . .

That's a wrap for the 2026 bloom. But before you go . . .

04/02/2026

In today's update:

- After some warm days and heavy rain last night, the cherry blossoms are done now. It looks nothing like it did even just two days ago.
- While it's still possible to find some petals stubbornly clinging on, they won't last long in the warmth and breeze.
- The Kwanzan cherry blossoms are starting to flower and already looking beautiful. As it warms again and more flowers open, they'll be looking even better through the weekend and into next week.

You can see what it looks like at the Tidal Basin this morning in the photos at the link -->

The main bloom is done now. But the Kwanzan cherry blossoms are starting to flower.

04/01/2026

Tracking the cherry blossoms for the past 16 years means I get to see the Tidal Basin in ways most one-time visitors miss — from the calm before sunrise, to quiet overcast afternoons, to bustling and vibrant weekends.

I've collected my favorite scenes from over the seasons into a gallery of fine art prints, produced on museum-grade cotton paper with archival pigment inks so they remain beautiful for decades. -->

License high-resolution images of CHERRY BLOSSOMS / Prints by professional photographer David Coleman at Have Camera Will Travel.

03/31/2026

In today's update:

- While the cherry blossoms are past their prime, they're still looking beautiful.
- They're holding up quite well so far. Warm weather this week will accelerate the petals coming down in the wind and in any rain we get.
- If you're planning to head down to the Tidal Basin, sooner is better than later.

There are photos of how it looks this morning, along with more information, in the update on the Cherry Blossom Watch website at the link:

While they're past their prime now and petals are falling, they still look beautiful. But if you're heading down to the Tidal Basin, sooner is better than later.

03/30/2026

Some photos from the Tidal Basin this morning. Petals coming down in the breeze, many blossoms turning pink, and some trees starting to leaf out, but they're mostly still looking beautiful.

More in the update at: https://cherryblossomwatch.com/2026-03-30/

03/30/2026

In today's update:

- The cherry blossoms are still looking lovely, but petals are coming down quite steadily in the breeze now, and some trees are starting to leaf out.
- Prospects for them lasting until the coming weekend aren't encouraging with the warmer weather forecast for this week.
- The Kwanzan cherry blossoms aren't far from flowering and look well-positioned to make good use of the warmer weather and might be flowering by the weekend. Tulips are also starting to flower.

There are photos and more information in the update on the Cherry Blossom Watch website at the link -->

They're still looking lovely, but the cherry blossoms are on their way out now. There's a lot of cherry blossom snow coming down, and green leaves are starting to come through on some trees.

03/28/2026

Some photos from the Tidal Basin this morning as the rain was wrapping up. There are more in the update on the website at:

https://cherryblossomwatch.com/2026-03-27

03/27/2026

In today's update:

- The rain hasn't bothered the cherry blossoms much. There is some cherry blossom "snow" down, but it's still only a tiny portion of the whole, and the trees still look lovely.
- But the rain did, understandably, keep people away, and it was very quiet this morning.
- East Basin Drive SW between the Jefferson Memorial and George Mason Memorial is closed as of this morning and through April 11. If you try to drive past the Jefferson Memorial using the previous route, you'll be put out onto 395 and end up across the river in Arlington. If you enter from Maine Ave SW, make sure to turn left at the intersection for East Potomac Park *before* the Jefferson Memorial.
- There are quite a lot of green leaves coming through, the start of the trees leafing out. That's quick, and it's a bit of a red flag for the chances of the blossoms lasting until the April 4-5 weekend (combined with the weather forecast for the coming week).

All of these photos were taken today (March 27, 2026). There are more photos and a lot more information in the update at the link -->

It’s not the prettiest weather at the Tidal Basin this morning. A light drizzle and heavy clouds. But the beautiful flowers make up for it. And there are some important logistical updates.

03/27/2026

Peak bloom today. Here are some photos from the Tidal Basin this morning.

The gear I'm shooting with: https://amzn.to/4sDVk46

03/26/2026

In today's update:

- The National Park Service announced that the cherry blossoms reached peak bloom today. That's early, but not abnormally so. What feels surprising is that it comes in the wake of such a long and bitterly cold winter.
- The trees are looking stunning now, and it sets the stage for a beautiful and crowded weekend at the Tidal Basin. The rain forecast for tomorrow shouldn’t pose any problem — the flowers are still strong and unlikely to be bothered. So I wouldn’t let that put you off going.
- It was much more crowded this morning at the Tidal Basin than it has been all week.
- The cherry blossoms will be looking beautiful this weekend, but it will be crowded. Very crowded. I suggest avoiding driving and parking if you can.
- The Blossom Kite Festival is on the National Mall on Saturday. There should be a good breeze for it.
- Prospects for the weekend of April 4-5: If you're coming into town for the Easter weekend, the blossoms might still be looking lovely. But it really depends on the weather. The current forecasts predict warmer temperatures next week and potential storms and rain. None of that is ideal for keeping the blossoms around. But we'll just have to see how it plays out (stay tuned for updates next week). For more information on how long the cherry blossoms last, head over to today's update on the website (link in profile).

There are photos from this morning, along with more detailed information, in the update on the website at the link -->

The cherry blossoms reached peak bloom today. And they're looking stunning.

03/26/2026

Some photos from the Tidal Basin this morning.