Cherry blossom season underway in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON (CBS, KYMA/KECY) - Cherry blossom season is in full swing in Washington, D.C., with the trees reaching peak bloom on Friday, according to the National Park Service.

Originally a gift from Japan to the United States, the capitol's cherry blossoms mostly appear along the Tidal Basin and in surrounding parks.

The National Park Service determines the cherry blossoms' peak bloom date based on when 70% of the blossoms on the Yoshino cherry trees, which are the most common type of cherry tree planted along the Tidal Basin, are open.

Typically, peak bloom occurs between the last week of March and the first week of April, according to the park service.

The average peak bloom date falls on April 3, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, which says the exact timing varies from year to year because warmer temperatures can encourage an earlier bloom.

The Yoshino trees usually bloom over multiple days.