Washington's famed cherry blossoms, one of the U.S. capital's major tourist attractions, were badly damaged by this week's late-season winter storm, the National Park Service said on Wednesday.
Damaged blooms could cut into the tens of thousands of tourists who flock to enjoy the pink-and-white trees that make Washington's Cherry Blossom Festival one of the biggest U.S. springtime parties.
"The number of cherry trees that reach the blossom stage may be reduced as a result of the recent cold temperatures," the National Park Service said in a statement.
Blossoms at earlier stages of bloom will be forced open over the next day or two to determine if they have been harmed, the agency said.
Peak bloom for the Yoshino cherry trees, the most abundant variety, is expected between March 19 and 22. Washington's Cherry Blossom Festival opens on March 25 and runs through April 8.
Horticulturists who checked some of the thousands of cherry trees that line the city's Tidal Basin found widespread damage in blossoms that had reached the fifth of six stages in the bloom cycle, the Park Service said.
The cherry trees were a gift from Japan to Washington in 1912 to honor the friendship between the two countries.
Temperatures in the Washington area fell to 22 Fahrenheit (minus 5 Celsius) early on Wednesday as a winter storm pummeled the Northeast and Middle Atlantic states with high winds, snow and temperatures well below average.
Temperatures remained below 24F (minus 4C), when 90 percent of exposed blooms can be affected, for at least five hours, the Park Service said. Similar temperatures were expected for Wednesday and Thursday nights.
The National Park Service last week moved back its prediction for peak bloom. It previously had forecast the peak bloom for March 14-17, following the warmest February in Washington on record. The earliest peak bloom on record is March 15.
Reuters
Thu Mar 16 2017
People paddle a swan-shaped boat as visitors walk along the Tidal Basin to look at cherry blossoms in Washington March 24, 2016. - REUTERS/File Photo
Pegawai, anggota bomba di lima negeri ada masalah kesihatan
Ujian Kemahiran Taktikal Kebombaan diduduki seramai 12,608 anggota dan pegawai dan hanya 9,313 sahaja yang lulus.
Kerajaan komited lahirkan lebih ramai teknousahawan
Anugerah Teknousahawan TVET@KKDW diperkenalkan bagi memberi pengiktirafan serta penghargaan kepada institusi, pengajar, pelajar, graduan dan alumni yang telah menunjukkan kecemerlangan dalam bidang keusahawanan TVET.
Kedah bakal bangunkan LRT di Langkawi
Kedah merancang membina sistem tren Transit Aliran Ringan (LRT) menggunakan teknologi levitasi magnet di Langkawi
Kes pedofilia MRSM Tumpat diklasifikasikan fitnah, tiada bukti kukuh
Kes pedofilia terhadap seorang guru Maktab Rendah Sains Mara di Tumpat diklasifikasikan sebagai fitnah selepas siasatan tidak menemui bukti kukuh berhubung kes itu, kata Ketua Polis Kelantan Datuk Muhamad Zaki Harun.
Kerajaan berusaha tangani inflasi, tingkat kuasa beli rakyat
Menurut Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, kerajaan tidak berdiam diri dalam menangani masalah inflasi termasuk melalui pelaksanaan pelbagai bentuk intervensi seperti kawalan harga.
Keutamaan negara Asia Barat untuk penuhi hasrat rakyat Palestin
Sekiranya Palestin diberikan negara dan kebebasan, mana-mana pihak tidak perlu lagi campur tangan dan tidak ada lagi konflik di Timur Tengah.
WEF gemakan wawasan, keterbukaan Malaysia dalam tiga hasrat
Mesyuarat Khas Forum Ekonomi Dunia (WEF) menjadi platform untuk Malaysia menggemakan keterbukaan jalinan kerjasama untuk melonjakkan ekonomi negara.
Hari ketiga lawatan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim di Riyadh Arab Saudi membawa wawasan Malaysia memperkasa hubungan bilateral antara negara, selain perbincangan mengenai pelaburan dan usaha memperkasa jalinan kerjasama sedia ada.
Hari ketiga lawatan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim di Riyadh Arab Saudi membawa wawasan Malaysia memperkasa hubungan bilateral antara negara, selain perbincangan mengenai pelaburan dan usaha memperkasa jalinan kerjasama sedia ada.
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
Berita tempatan pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Berikut adalah berita yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang Isnin, 29 April 2024.
WEF gemakan wawasan, keterbukaan Malaysia melalui tiga hasrat
Malaysia mahu perkasa hubungan bilateral antara negara, selain perbincangan mengenai pelaburan dan usaha mengukuhkan jalinan kerjasama sedia ada.