Powerful winds in Washington, D.C., toppled the National Christmas Tree on Tuesday.
According to the National Park Service (NPS), which oversees the President’s Park where the tree was erected, the fully decorated tree fell after a strong gust hit around 2 p.m., perWUSA9.
TheNational Weather Servicerecorded winds as strong as 40 mph at Reagan National Airport on Tuesday.
Crews on the scene are working to stand the tree up again, according toFox News.
TheNational Christmas Tree Lightingis scheduled to take place on Thursday on the Ellipse, just south of the White House, according toNPS.
The parks agency toldABC Newsthey are “hopeful” the event can still continue as planned.
Nathan Posner/Anadolu Agency via Getty
“As the saying goes, ‘the show must go on’ and the NPS and our event partners are looking at all possibilities to ensure a successful event this year,” an agency spokesperson said in a statement.
The 40-foot cut Norway spruce, which came from Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia, was actually a replacement for the original Christmas tree. According to anNPSrelease, the first tree, which was planted in October 2021, had to be removed on Nov. 11 after developing needle cast, a fungus condition that causes the needles to turn brown and fall off.
The 2022 National Christmas Tree.Paul Morigi/Getty
Paul Morigi/Getty
NPS worked with the USDA Forest Service to source the cut Norway spruce in time for the season. Up until 1973, NPS used cut trees for the National Christmas trees. The agency said in the release that it plans to reevaluate whether to continue using cut trees or plant a new tree after the holiday season.
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The National Christmas Tree, as well as 58 smaller trees, are open to the public to visit for free from Dec. 1 to Jan. 1. The trees are lit at sunset each night.
source: people.com
