Tokyo¡¯s cherry trees are expected to begin flowering on March 17, a week earlier than average amid a warmer winter, with full bloom anticipated on March 28, according to the latest forecast released on Thursday by Weather Map.
The earlier-than-usual blossoming is attributed to higher than average temperatures across the country over the past few months, particularly this month.
¡°This year, cherry blossom is expected to be in bloom five to 10 days earlier than usual in many areas,¡± Weather Map said. ¡°Temperatures are expected to be higher than the average year in March.¡±
In Osaka, cherry trees are forecast to start blooming on March 23, reaching full bloom by April 1. Meanwhile, in Nagoya, trees are expected to begin flowering on March 19 and reach full bloom on March 29.
This year marks the first time since 2020 that cherry blossom-viewing, or hanami, a major seasonal event in Japan, can be held with no restrictions, as Japan downgraded its COVID-19 classification in May last year.
Forecasts for full bloom in other cities are as follows:
- Fukuoka: March 30
- Kyoto: March 30
- Hiroshima: March 30
- Nagano: April 9
- Kagoshima: April 10
- Sapporo: April 28
The earlier-than-usual dates follow a recent pattern of early cherry blossom seasons, reflecting an increase in average temperatures due to global warming.
According to the Meteorological Agency, last year saw the highest average temperature on record in Japan. Climate change and urban warming are further complicating the task of cherry blossom forecasting.
The Weather Map forecast provides flowering and full bloom dates for the Somei-Yoshino cherry blossom variety for the Meteorological Agency¡¯s official observation trees in 53 locations across Japan, from Hokkaido to Kagoshima.
Somei-Yoshino isn¡¯t Japan¡¯s only variety of cherry blossom tree. According to the Izu Shimbun, cherry blossom varieties found in Atami and Kawazu in Shizuoka Prefecture, which are among the earliest arriving cherry blossoms in the country, have already bloomed this month.
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