Donald Trump's Swearing-In Ceremony On January 20 Set To Be One Of The Coldest In Recent History

As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take the oath of office on Monday, Washington, D.C., is bracing for what reports suggest could be one of the coldest inaugurations in recent history.

With temperatures predicted to plunge well below the January average, the ceremony is expected to unfold in bitterly cold conditions.

Photo Credit: AP/PTI

According to the local news outlet WTOP, there is a chance of snow on Sunday, January 19, followed by gusty winds and highs barely reaching -6°C (20°F).

The National Weather Service has issued warnings about dangerously low wind chills that could make it feel even colder, particularly in the morning when temperatures are expected to drop to -10°C (in the teens, Fahrenheit), climbing only slightly to around -5°C (low 20s, Fahrenheit) by midday.

Wind speeds are likely to range from 24 to 32 kph (15 to 20 mph), with gusts of up to 48 kph (30 mph), further intensifying the chill.

"This will be a very cold day, with wind chill values in the single digits to low teens," WTOP quoted Brian LaSorsa, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, as saying. "We'll be well below average, as our usual high is in the upper 30s for this time of year."

When cold weather forced an inauguration indoors

The forecast of extreme cold threatens to make Donald Trump's inauguration the chilliest since Ronald Reagan's second swearing-in ceremony in 1985.

On that occasion, temperatures were so extreme-reaching just -14°C (7°F) by noon-that the ceremony was moved indoors and the parade was cancelled. Reagan even joked about the weather during his inaugural address, remarking, "We would have been standing at the steps if it hadn't gotten so cold."

Other notably cold inaugurations include John F. Kennedy's ceremony in 1961, which saw temperatures of -6°C (22°F) with snow on the ground. In contrast, Trump's first inauguration in 2017 was relatively mild at 9°C (48°F), while Joe Biden's 2021 swearing-in registered 6°C (42°F).

For the hundreds of thousands expected to attend the event, the biting cold is likely to be a defining feature of the day. Weather experts are advising attendees to prepare for the frigid wind chills and strong winds that are forecast to dominate the conditions.

Despite these weather challenges, the inauguration will proceed as planned, with history set to be made in freezing temperatures.

Donald Trump, whose Republican Party secured a sweeping victory in the presidential election, will be sworn in as President of the United States on Monday, January 20.