
President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration is set to be the coldest since Ronald Reagan’s second term, with temperatures expected to plummet into the low 20s.
Trump breaks yet another record…sort of!
At a Glance
- Trump’s inauguration forecast to be the coldest since Reagan’s 1985 ceremony
- Temperatures expected around 21°F, feeling like 11°F at noon
- Over 200,000 attendees expected despite frigid conditions
- Strong winds and low wind chills to create dangerous weather conditions
Arctic Blast to Grip Washington D.C.
As Donald Trump prepares to take the oath of office as the 47th President of the United States, Mother Nature seems determined to make her presence felt. The upcoming inauguration on January 20 is forecasted to be the coldest since Ronald Reagan’s second inauguration in 1985, with temperatures expected to hover around 21 degrees Fahrenheit.
The National Weather Service has issued warnings about the frigid conditions expected to envelop the nation’s capital. Brian LaSorsa, a meteorologist with the service, painted a stark picture of what attendees can expect.
“We’re going to have dangerously cold temperatures with low wind chills,” Brian LaSorsa, meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
LaSorsa elaborated on the wind conditions, stating, “We’re looking at winds about 15 to 20 miles per hour with gusts 25 to 30 miles per hour. When you combine that with the very cold air temperatures, that’s what’s going to cause the dangerously low wind chill values.”
While cold, Trump’s inauguration is not expected to technically break records. Reagan’s 1985 inauguration still holds the record for the coldest, with temperatures plummeting to 7 degrees Fahrenheit and wind chills between -10 to -20 degrees. That extreme weather forced the ceremony indoors, a fate that may yet befall Trump’s outdoor plans.
But it’ll be a record for the last few decades, at least!
“It’s going to be very, very cold,” LaSorsa said. “Our average high for what it’s worth is in the upper 30s, so we’ll be well below average for this time of year.”
Despite the challenging weather, Washington D.C. is gearing up for the event. Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith expressed confidence in the city’s preparedness, stating, “We’re prepared. No city handles large scale events better than D.C.”
The inauguration is expected to draw over 200,000 ticketed guests, with thousands more watching from a distance. Security measures have been heightened to ensure the safety of all attendees in the face of both the weather and the large crowds.
If you’re going, remember to take your hat and gloves!