Spring is here, so when will the Utah Capitol cherry blossoms bloom?
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — After a windy weekend, warm weather has graced the Wasatch Front giving a spring-time feeling in the air. In fact, Monday is the last full day of winter as the spring equinox officially arrives on Tuesday, March 19.
The blooming cherry blossoms on Salt Lake City’s Capitol Hill are a beautiful symbol of the changing seasons. But when will we see the highly-anticipated full blossoming pinks of Utah’s 433 Yoshino trees?
It depends on whether this warm weather holds out or if winter returns with another surprise cold snap.
The timeline for cherry blossoms to bloom is a temperature-sensitive process, according to the High Park Nature Centre in Toronto. Warmer weather will encourage cherry trees to bloom earlier in the year, while cooler temperatures will delay the bloom time.
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It can be difficult to predict when exactly the cherry blossoms will reach full bloom, as weather can change frequently. In Utah, cherry blossoms typically reach full bloom around the start of spring, sometime in March or April. The blossoms were a little later than normal in 2023 thanks to the wintry conditions from the record-breaking winter lingering later into the year.
If you’re worried about missing “peak bloom,” there are some signs you can be on the lookout for to help estimate when you should return to the capitol building grounds.
First, the trees will develop green color buds. These fat and round buds will arrive even before leaves and are the first sign of cherry blossom season. About two weeks before full bloom, the buds will start to noticeably swell and small flowers – or florets – will become visible.
The deep pink florets will begin to extend out of the buds and get longer over the next few days. The florets are very vulnerable to weather at this stage. According to High Park Nature Centre, a sudden cold snap could put the cherry blossoms at risk.
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About four to six days before peak bloom, the florets will appear fluffy white and begin to open. Each flower will open at different times, but once 70% of the blossoms open, the Yoshino trees will have reached “peak bloom.”
Flowers will last about 4-10 days, depending on the weather, so the window to witness the pink and white spectacle of spring is very short. At peak bloom, cool and calm weather can extend the bloom period while warm and unsettled weather can shorten it.
So far, the weather is looking favorable for Utah’s cherry blossoms. ABC4’s 4Warn Weather Team forecasts a higher-than-average warmth to kick off the spring season. Temperatures will begin to drop going into next weekend as a cold front brings some unsettled weather and rain potential.
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