When Are the Cherry Blossoms Blooming in DC?

Update, April 8, 10 p.m.: The DC Tidal Basin Cherry Blossoms are expected to according to the National Park Service.

The peak bloom is when 70 percent of the blossoms are open and the average peak bloom date is April 4, so this year is right on track.

Update, April 2, 2 p.m.: "The colder than average March and chilled start to April has slowed the emergence of [DC's] famed cherry blossoms. Peak bloom may not be achieved in the previously forecast April 3-7 window. Our revised window for peak bloom is April 6-10," The Post's Capital Weather Gang stated.

Cherry blossom peak bloom times are not easy to predict. "Moving ahead, warm, sunny days and mild nights could speed up the bloom process, while cloudy days and cold nights could slow it down," The Gang added.

Read more on the latest prediction at The Capital Weather Gang's Post blog.

Laura Thorton contributed to this post.

Original Post, 5:15 a.m: This week brings the 2013 peak bloom of the famous cherry blossom trees around the DC Tidal Basin, and the weather for most of this week will be nice for enjoying pink and white flowering trees. 

The official estimated peak dates are April 3 to April 6 (that's Wednesday through Saturday), according to the National Park Service.

Monday may be the nicest day of the week in terms of weather—a significant change from last Monday, when up to three inches of snow accumulated north and west of DC.

Local forecasters say Monday will be partly cloudy with a high temperature of about 60 degrees. As the week goes on, temperatures will drop and the chances for rain will increase (see details below). 

Overnight temperatures throughout the week will be in the 30s.

The average temperature in April in 2011 and 2012 was about 58 degrees, according to National Weather Service climate data.

Here are the daily forecast details:

Tuesday, the sun will stick around but the high temperature during the day will be lower. The high Tuesday will be in the low 50s.

Wednesday will be a bit breezier with winds from the northwest at about 20 mph and increasing clouds.

Thursday will be less windy but remain cloudy. The high temperature Thursday will be in the mid-50s. 

Friday is the day it could rain. Temperatures will remain in the mid-50s during the day under cloudy skies with a 70 percent chance of rain. 

Looking ahead: The sun may return Saturday and Sunday with slightly warmer temperatures again. 

Tell Us: Will you be heading to the mall to view the cherry blossoms?