Connect with us

Washington, D.C

DC’s iconic cherry trees could hit a record-early peak bloom as temperatures soar | CNN

Published

on

DC’s iconic cherry trees could hit a record-early peak bloom as temperatures soar | CNN




CNN
 — 

Tucked among the many hundreds of iconic Yoshino cherry timber on the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC, is the “indicator tree,” which erupts into full bloom as a lot as 10 days sooner than its neighbors and offers officers on the Nationwide Park Service a good suggestion when the remainder of them may start to flower.

This yr the indicator tree already started budding — the primary stage of the bloom cycle — in the midst of February. That may solely imply one factor: Spring (and cherry blossom season) is coming early.

Specialists mentioned this yr might be a record-breaking early bloom, as temperatures soar method above common for February. Over the previous century, the historic common peak bloom date on the Tidal Basin has been April 4, however information present it’s been coming sooner than common in latest a long time.

Advertisement

The earliest peak bloom on file was in March 15, 1990. Michael Litterst, communications chief for Nationwide Mall and Memorial Parks with the Nationwide Park Service, mentioned he believes that date is “definitely in play this yr.”

“All indications are it’s going to be sooner than common,” Litterst instructed CNN. Final yr’s peak bloom was March 25. “We’re a few month out from that, however given what we’ve seen up to now, and given what the forecast is, I believe we’re in all probability one thing sooner than that.”

Peak bloom varies annually relying on climate circumstances. In line with the Nationwide Park Service, Yoshino timber normally attain peak bloom between the final week of March and the primary week of April. And the blooming interval itself might final a number of days — all of it relies on the climate.

Advertisement

However with the rise of planet-warming air pollution, temperatures are getting hotter. And heat winters trigger crops and timber to blossom early. A number of Japanese plum timber, as an example, that are normally the earliest flowering timber, already blossomed across the Nationwide Mall in late January.

“Warmth is what partially drives timber like that to blossom,” Litterst mentioned. “And once you take a look at how delicate this winter has been, and the truth that we’ve had zero snow or frozen precipitation this yr, it’s not a shock that we’re seeing this.”

Litterst mentioned he has observed a connection between hotter temperatures and earlier peak bloom. For instance, the common annual temperature on the Martin Luther King Memorial and across the Tidal Basin have “elevated a statistically vital 2.5 levels Fahrenheit between 1895 and 2017,” he mentioned.

On the identical time that temperatures had been warming, peak bloom dates have additionally been shifting early by roughly six days.

“And never surprisingly, we’re seeing people who find themselves coming in earlier in earlier” to see the capital’s iconic cherry blossoms, he added.

Advertisement
In some warmer parts of DC, the cherry trees are already blossoming. Temperatures around the Tidal Basin are usually a bit colder than the rest of the capital.

It’s not simply Washington, DC. Spring leaf out — when the primary tiny leaves emerge from buds of crops which can be dormant within the winter — is already the earliest on file in components of the Southeast, southern Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic, in accordance with the Nationwide Phenology Community.

Even New York Metropolis is seeing spring leaf out 32 days sooner than regular.

“Spring is coming early in a lot of the Southern and Japanese US,” Brad Rippey, meteorologist with the US Division of Agriculture, beforehand instructed CNN. “Right here within the mid-Atlantic, meaning the whole lot from budding timber to crocuses in bloom to spring peepers making plenty of noise — and in February, no much less.”

Advertisement

Many plant species past cherry blossoms — together with daffodils, witch-hazel and forsythia — are starting to leaf out within the East. Theresa Crimmins, director of the USA Nationwide Phenology Community, mentioned it’s the crops responding to very early heat temperatures.

“Vegetation, particularly these of temperate techniques, reply to plenty of cues with the intention to get up within the spring, together with publicity to relax within the winter, publicity to heat within the spring, and day size,” she instructed CNN.

However given the latest erratic adjustments in climate patterns, it’s potential for temperatures to shift once more.

In line with the Nationwide Park Service, cool and calm climate usually extends the size of the bloom, whereas a wet and windy day can carry an abrupt finish to the ephemeral blossoms.

And a late frost can cease the timber from blooming in any respect.

Advertisement

This implies if one other chilly snap happens after this early heat spell, Crimmins mentioned it might be disruptive and damaging for the crops’ cycle. As flower buds develop, many species lose their capability to tolerate chilly temperatures, which suggests a freeze might kill blooms and depart fruit crops and different commodities susceptible to spring freezes.

The cherry trees on March 23, two days before peak bloom last year. Tourists from around the world descend on the Tidal Basin each year to enjoy the photogenic show these trees put on.

Rippey mentioned heat winters adopted by a spring freeze have develop into extra widespread lately. In 2017, as an example, a extreme spring freeze in March broken a number of fruit crops — peaches, blueberries, apples and strawberries — in states together with Georgia and South Carolina, which carried an financial toll of roughly $1.2 billion.

“As good because it feels to have temperatures within the 70s and 80s this time of yr, the truth that it’s not ‘regular’ can have a profound impression on the ecosystem,” Rippey mentioned. “Even a typical spring freeze can injury industrial and back-yard fruit crops which were pushed into blooming by late-winter heat.”

The Nationwide Park Service’s Litterst mentioned they plan to announce the projected peak bloom date on March 1. For now, it’s in all probability protected to say you possibly can transfer up your DC cherry blossom picture-taking plans.

Advertisement





Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Washington, D.C

Sakkari looks like herself again; beats No. 2 Navarro in Washington

Published

on

Sakkari looks like herself again; beats No. 2 Navarro in Washington


WASHINGTON, D.C. — Maria Sakkari hit the sweet spot of her career in 2022 and 2023, finishing as year-end No. 6 in the PIF WTA Rankings.

This year, though, has been something of a slog. The 29-year-old from Greece has a losing record and her ranking has drifted down to No. 90.

Maybe it’s the heat and humidity, or something else in the atmosphere, but whatever it is Sakkari seems to thrive in the nation’s capital. In her only previous visit, two years ago, she rolled all the way to the final, beating Leylah Fernandez, Madison Keys and Jessica Pegula in the process. 

On Wednesday night, No. 2 seed Emma Navarro was added to her list of victims. Sakkari scored a 7-5, 7-6 (1) win over Navarro to advance to the quarterfinals of the Mubadala Citi DC Open. Sakkari, who received a wild card into the main draw, has now won three of four career matches against the 24-year-old American.

Advertisement

She’ll play the winner of Thursday’s highly anticipated match between Grand Slam champions Naomi Osaka and Emma Raducanu on Friday.

Navarro is ranked 79 spots higher than Sakkari, but she could never get it going. 

Energized and bouncing around like it was 2022, Sakkari saved all three of the break points against her. And while she converted only one — in the last game of the first set — it was enough.

Sakkari served well, winning 60 of 85, and had seven aces — two in the tiebreak. 

Even before her heyday, Sakkari could hang with the best. In 2021, she posted a WTA Tour-high nine wins against Top 10 players.

Advertisement

This year, it’s been difficult; before beating Navarro, Sakkari had lost 11 of 13 matches to seeded players in 2025.

Now, she’s looking for a slice of history, trying to emulate the feats of Paula Badosa (2024) and Nadia Petrova (20112), who won the title here as wild cards.

 



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Washington, D.C

DC Council-commissioned report raises questions about stadium proposal

Published

on

DC Council-commissioned report raises questions about stadium proposal


A report commissioned by the D.C. Council raised some red flags about the Washington Commanders stadium deal on the table, though it’s unclear if any of them are too serious to overcome.

The Council commissioned three reports ahead of public hearings July 29. The report from business management consultant The Robert Bobb Group dated July 15 — the deadline Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Commanders set for the Council to act before the team can resume shopping around for a new location. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson shared the report on X late Friday.

It brought up several questions about the proposal to develop the RFK Stadium campus.

There’s uncertainty about who will be responsible for maintenance. The report recommends D.C. set a cap on how much will be covered by a maintenance fund and ensure the Commanders cover any overruns.

Advertisement

The report found construction delays could reduce tax revenue. If the stadium is going to open by 2030 as the team wants groundbreaking needs to happen next year.

Another concern about tax revenue is that riverfront development might not happen quickly enough. The report recommends a provision for the team to return control of some land to D.C. if it stays undeveloped for too long.

The report also raises concerns about transportation and parking and cites a lack of a comprehensive public safety plan. News4 reports there have been discussions about adding a new D.C. Fire and EMS station.

Earlier Friday, News4 asked Mendelson about the pressure on the Council to quickly approve the deal.

“The bottom line is, I want to emphasize, we’ve had this for less than seven weeks,” he said. “And instead of ‘how can we all work together, answer questions, see if we can make the deal better,’ there’s been this almost daily mantra of ‘the Council needs to act quickly, act without a hearing, act without any analyses, act without any due diligence.’ And that has not been helpful.”

Advertisement

Comer urges Council to act before August recess

Some of that pressure came from the head of the House Oversight Committee Thursday.

House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer is urging the council to act quickly on the RFK Stadium redevelopment.

U.S. Rep. James Comer, R-Kentucky, wrote a letter to Mendelson urging city leaders to vote on the new stadium before their August recess.

“Congress has already spoken on this matter through the bipartisan H.R. 4984, which was signed by President Biden on January 6, 2025. The law was designed specifically to enable the District to advance expeditiously with this transformational opportunity,” Comer said in the letter.

While the Council has made a preliminary vote on the financing of the deal, Mendelson removed the bulk of the stadium legislation from the upcoming budget vote and has said it’s unlikely the Council will vote on that before September.

Advertisement

President Donald Trump said earlier this month that he might intervene on behalf of the Commanders if the Council fails to approve the stadium deal.

The mayor’s office said it needs more time to review the report before commenting.

News4 also reached out to the Commanders and awaits a response.

The second of the three reports could come next week.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Washington, D.C

DC police commander suspended, accused of changing crime statistics

Published

on

DC police commander suspended, accused of changing crime statistics


A D.C. police commander is under investigation for allegedly making changes to crime statistics in his district.

The Metropolitan Police Department confirmed Michael Pulliam was placed on paid administrative leave in mid-May — just a week after Pulliam filed an equal employment opportunity complaint against an assistant chief and the police union accused the department of deliberately falsifying crime data.

The union claims police supervisors in the department manipulate crime data to make it appear violent crime has fallen considerably compared to last year.

Pulliam — the former commander of the 3rd District that patrols Adams Morgan and Columbia Heights — was placed on leave with pay and told he was under investigation for questionable changes to crime data, five law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation told News4.

Advertisement

That came about a week after he filed a complaint against Executive Assistant Chief of Police Andre Wright, according to three law enforcement sources familiar with the complaint.

Pulliam denied the allegations against him.

“When our members respond to the scene of a felony offense where there is a victim reporting that a felony occurred, inevitably there will be a lieutenant or a captain that will show up on that scene and direct those members to take a report for a lesser offense,” Fraternal Order of Police Chairman Gregg Pemberton said. “So, instead of taking a report for a shooting or a stabbing or a carjacking, they will order that officer to take a report for a theft or an injured person to the hospital or a felony assault, which is not the same type of classification.”

The police department’s command staff is focusing on two categories in order to get the numbers to fall, Pemberton said: armed with a dangerous weapon and injured person to the hospital.

“When management officials are directing officers to take reports for felony assault, or if they’re going back into police databases and changing offenses to felony assault, felony assault is not a category of crime that’s listed on the department’s daily crime stats,” Pemberton said. “It’s also not something that’s a requirement of the FBI’s uniform crime reporting program. So, by changing criminal offenses from, for example, ADW bat or ADW gun to felony assault, that would avoid both the MPD and the FBI from reporting that as a part one or a felony offense.”

Advertisement

The union has been gathering evidence for some time now by looking at reports and talking with officers all over the city, Pemberton said.

“What we’ve heard through our members and through members of management that were willing to talk with the union is that this is a directive from the command staff, is that they wanna make sure that these classifications of these reports are adjusted over time to make sure that the overall crime stats stay down,” Pemberton said. “And this is deliberately done.”

As of last Monday when News4 spoke with Pemberton, D.C. crime data shows violent crime was down 28%. Thursday, the department’s website said violent crime is down 25% when compared to the same time last year, and overall crime is down 8%.

“That’s preposterous,” Pemberton said. “There’s absolutely no way crime could be down 28%. Last year they suggested that it went down 34%.”

Advertisement

In April, Pulliam’s wife, Capt. Rachel Pulliam, was transferred by Chief Pamela Smith from the Youth Division to midnights in the 7th District.

Subsequently, according to three sources familiar with the incident and the timing of everything, Wright ordered Cmdr. Pulliam to pack up his wife’s belongings from Youth Division and move them on his own to his wife’s new assignment in 7D.

He viewed the order as retaliatory and a misuse of authority, sources familiar with the complaint said.

About a week later, Cmdr. Pulliam’s police powers were revoked, five law enforcement sources told News4.

Chief Smith told News4 she can’t comment on an ongoing investigation.

Advertisement

As for the claims made by the union, Smith released this statement: “The Metropolitan Police Department is committed to upholding the trust and the confidence of the public. Any irregularity in crime data brought to my attention will be addressed immediately. I do not condone any official reclassifying criminal offenses outside the guidelines set in MPD policy. Any allegation of this behavior will be dealt with through our internal processes, which will ensure those members are held accountable. I have the utmost confidence in the command staff leadership currently in place across the Metropolitan Police Department.”

Wright declined to comment to News4.



Source link

Continue Reading

Trending