By MATT BEINART
Capital 小萝莉影视 Service
WASHINGTON 鈥� D.C. in December brings to mind snowy days, the National Christmas Tree lighting 鈥� and cherry blossoms?
Yes, they’re in bloom.
National Park Service spokesman Mike Litterst attributed the phenomenon to a species of tree called the autumn flowering cherry in the area, which have the potential to blossom during warm periods in late November and early December.
鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 necessarily happen every year, but an early patch of warm weather will bring them out,鈥� Litterst said. 鈥淚t is sporadic, but totally natural.鈥�
The average December high temperature in the nation鈥檚 capital is 47 degrees and the average low is 33, but the last week has seen two days above 60 with temperatures this weekend expected to reach 70, according to The Weather Channel.
鈥淭his type of weather becomes the norm when there is a strong El Ni帽o like there is this year,鈥� said Dale Allen, an associate research scientist with the University of Maryland鈥檚 Atmospheric and Oceanic Science Department.
Allen considers the anomalous cherry blossoming to be in line with the typical mid-Atlantic weather patterns associated with an El Ni帽o, which are characterized by mild early December temperatures and no snowfall.
The Autumn Flowering Cherry trees are most prominent near the Tidal Basin and around the Washington Monument.
Litterst said the cherry trees鈥� late-year bloom will not have any impact on their blossoming again in the spring.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a little holiday bonus of color in the nation鈥檚 capital,鈥� he said.
