There are few things that unite people across the Washington region like the cherry blossoms and their peak bloom date, when the trees reach their fullest and most Instagram-able phase. That date will be March 22-25 the National Park Service and D.C. officials announced at a press conference Wednesday.

The date comes considerably earlier than the average peak bloom of April 4 over the past century. It’s not necessarily a surprise, given that the tried-and-true cherry blossom indicator tree was already showing buds in February, and The Washington Post’s Capital Weather Gang predicted a peak bloom of March 25-29 on Wednesday.

“Due to the warmer-than-average temperatures, the trees never reached their winter dormancy, which is the starting point for calculating when the blooms will emerge,” said Jeffrey Reinbold, superintendent for the National Mall and Memorial Parks, at a Wednesday press conference. “Our natural resource manager likened our indicator tree to a teenager — there’s a lot going on there.”

The Yoshino trees, gifted by Japan in the early 20th century, have inspired countless Instagram selfies, pieces of art, and trips to the Tidal Basin and other locations across the area, where at least a dozen cherry tree varieties flourish each spring. Locals and tourists alike anxiously await the peak bloom date each year, when 70% of the Yoshino blossoms are open.

One complication: Predicting the peak bloom date accurately is completely dependent on the weather. And in the past, warm-weather patterns have given way to cold fronts, even prompting NPS to push back the peak bloom date after announcing it in 2017. The D.C. region is expected to get hit with winter weather in March, per the Capital Weather Gang, which could potentially push the date back or damage flowers that have already bloomed.

The beginning of spring is celebrated annually with a four-week National Cherry Blossom Festival, to be held this year March 20-April 16, with programming in D.C. and the nearby Maryland and Northern Virginia suburbs. (Some related events take place outside those official dates, however, like the annual Pink Tie Party to kick off the festival, happening March 16, and the Anacostia River Festival, which is held in May.)

It’s a time of pride around the District. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s administration even chartered a cherry blossom-themed coach bus to promote the festival during a five-city tour over the past week.

This year’s festival will be marked by staple events like the Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival and the Blossom Kite Festival. Of note: the Cherry Blossom Parade, to be held April 15, will have Mickey and Minnie Mouse at its grand marshals, and Abbott Elementary actress — and Silver Spring native — Lisa Ann Walter will serve as honorary marshal and host. But lots of other cultural institutions around D.C. also get in on the action; the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art will exhibit “Ay-Ō’s Happy Rainbow Hell,” by Japanese artist Ay-Ō starting March 25, and the Library of Congress will host a Japanese Culture Day April 1.

In addition, more than 100 local restaurants will offer cherry-blossom-themed menus to coincide with the festival. Businesses, Metro buses and cars, and landmarks across town will be decked out in cherry blossom logos, decals, sculptures, and paintings as part of the City in Bloom and Art in Bloom activations.

There are also ways to celebrate the spring blooms outside of the Mall: those who want to enter a contest to see who can decorate their porch in the most festive cherry blossom manner can register for Petal Porches by March 13; there are also neighborhood events planned in Arlington, Herndon, Fairfax, Congress Heights, and others.

This story has been updated with additional information and statements from a press conference.