UW Cherry Blossom Viewing Goes Virtual Again Due To Pandemic

People who want to see the cherry blossoms bloom at University of Washington (UW) have to do so online this year.

The school announced Monday (March 8) that the event is going virtual again to promote social distancing and safety during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. University officials moved the event online in 2020 as the virus spread rapidly across the nation, prompting stay-at-home orders or recommendations.

"UW News will not track full bloom timing this year due to the pandemic. Please avoid coming to campus to see the cherry blossoms and instead enjoy them virtually," UW wrote on their website.

If you're interested in participating, you can watch the live cameras here or see a virtual tour of all the types of blossoms on campus here.

They also encourage people to explore their neighborhoods and local parks for cherry trees. The Seattle Department of Transportation also has an interactive map of trees in the city. To find cherry trees in your area, click on "Explore street trees" in the top navigation bar. Select "trees by type" and look for trees with the "Prunus" genus (cherry and plum trees).

Photo: Getty Images