With unusually warm January, Kyiv cherry blossoms bloom early — photos

Oleksandr Voznyi, the department's head, noted that cherry blossoms usually bloom in April, but this unusual January flowering is linked to an abnormally warm winter. He pointed out that the early blooming was preceded by record-breaking temperatures in the capital, with Jan. 26 and 27 temperatures aligning with typical late March readings.

He warned that blooming out of season can deplete the trees' resources and pose a risk of frost damage. The early flowering period is also problematic due to the absence of pollinating insects in winter, disrupting the natural cycle and reducing disease resistance.

Voznyi added that similar weather anomalies are being observed in other countries as well. For instance, jacaranda trees are blooming earlier in Mexico, and in the United Kingdom, bumblebees have been seen building nests during the winter months this year.

On Jan. 26, Kyiv saw its temperature record broken. The maximum air temperature reached 7.4°C (45.3°F), surpassing the previous record for this day set in 2021 by 0.5°C.

Previously, Ukraine’s Environmental Protection Ministry reported that Kyiv has not experienced a climatic winter—when the average daily temperature consistently falls below 0°C (32°F)—for three consecutive years.