Japan’s cherry blossoms have been triggered months early by typhoons.
According to The Guardian, typhoons have “tricked” Japan’s cherry blossoms from appearing months early.
Usually a highlight of Japan’s springtime, cherry blossoms usually grace the country in the month of April. However, hundreds of locations in Japan are reporting sakura blooming in October.
Weathernews reports over 350 premature blossoms across the country.
Experts believe the early blossoms are linked to extreme weather events, particularly two recent powerful typhoons.
Tree doctor at the Flower Association of Japan, Hiroyuki Wada, said the storms stripped trees of their leaves that would usually release hormones prevent buds from blooming early.
“This has happened in the past, but I don’t remember seeing anything on this scale,” he said.
Although the trees have bloomed early, Wada said Japan should expect the cherry blossoms to appear as usual in 2019’s springtime.
“The buds that opened now won’t blossom in the coming spring,” he said. “But only a small number of them are being observed. I don’t think it will affect cherry blossom viewing next year.”
