The cherry trees at the Tidal Basin have entered the third of six stages of their blooming cycle -- florets extended -- the National Park Service (NPS) announced Tuesday.
The blossoms reached their second stage -- florets visible -- March 1 and stage one on Feb. 23.
Up next: peduncle elongation. (Peduncle is the stalk that bears flower or fruit.)
Storm Team4 Meteorologist Amelia Draper predicted the cherry trees will reach peak bloom March 15-20.
NPS has predicted the blossoms' peak bloom as March 22-25.
Peak bloom is defined as when 70% of the blossoms on the Yoshino cherry trees along the Tidal Basin have bloomed, according to the NPS.
The National Cherry Blossom Festival takes place March 20- April 16 in D.C.
