Trump’s Inauguration to Be Coldest in Recent History

As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take the oath of office on Monday, Washington, D.C., braces for one of the coldest inaugurations in recent history.

Temperatures are expected to drop significantly below the January average, and organizers will hold the ceremony in frigid conditions. According to local news site WTOP, there’s also a chance of snow on Sunday, January 19, followed by strong winds and daytime highs barely reaching 20 degrees.

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NWS Warns of Extreme Cold and Wind Chills on Inauguration Day

The National Weather Service warned of dangerously low wind chills that could make the air feel even colder, especially in the morning when temperatures are expected to drop into the teens and climb to the low 20s by midday. Winds are likely to blow at speeds of 15 to 20 mph, with gusts of 25 to 30 mph, intensifying the cold.

“This will be an extremely cold day, with wind chill values ranging from the single digits to low teens,” said Brian LaSorsa, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, as quoted by WTOP. “We’ll be significantly below average, as the typical high for this time of year is in the upper 30s.”

When frigid temperatures forced officials to hold the inauguration indoors

The prediction of severe cold could make Donald Trump’s inauguration the coldest since Ronald Reagan’s second swearing-in in 1985. That year, temperatures dropped to a frigid 7 degrees by noon, forcing the ceremony indoors and canceling the planned parade. Reagan even joked about the weather in his inaugural speech, saying, “We would have stood at the steps if it hadn’t been so cold.”

Other chilly inaugurations include John F. Kennedy’s 1961 ceremony, which had temperatures of 22 degrees with snow on the ground. In comparison, Donald Trump’s first inauguration in 2017 was milder, at 48 degrees, while Joe Biden’s 2021 inauguration saw a temperature of 42 degrees.

For the hundreds of thousands expected to attend the event, the harsh cold is likely to be a major aspect of the day’s experience. Weather experts are advising attendees to brace for low wind chills and strong winds, which will be prevalent throughout the day.

Despite the challenging weather, organizers will proceed with the inauguration as scheduled, and they will make history in freezing conditions.

Donald Trump, whose Republican Party won the presidential election, will take the oath of office as US President on Monday, January 20.

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