
Trump inauguration in 2017 was much less cold than the forecasted temperatures for Monday | JIM BOURGPOOL/AFP/FILE
The forecast for President-elect Donald Trump’s upcoming Inauguration Day predicts bitterly cold temperatures, possibly accompanied by snow. Expected highs are in the upper 20s to low 30s, with gusty winds creating an even chillier feel under mostly cloudy skies.
The National Weather Service has estimated a 30% chance of snow but noted that the specifics remain uncertain. This marks a sharp contrast to Trump’s first inauguration in 2017, which saw milder weather with light rain and a high of 48°F.
Historically, weather conditions on Inauguration Day have varied greatly, often drawing as much attention as the ceremonies themselves. The average temperature for a Jan. 20 inauguration in Washington, D.C., is 45°F, with a low of 30°F around dawn and a typical noon temperature of 37°F.
In some cases, severe weather has left a lasting impact. William Howard Taft’s 1909 inauguration faced heavy snow, frigid temperatures, and strong winds, while Ronald Reagan’s second inauguration in 1985 saw extreme cold with wind chills plunging to -20°F, prompting the event to move indoors.
Unpredictable conditions have long characterized inaugural weather. Notably, William Henry Harrison’s inauguration on March 4, 1841, was marked by cold, wet weather that likely contributed to his death a month later after delivering a lengthy outdoor speech without a hat or coat. The date for inaugurations was shifted from March 4 to Jan. 20 in the 1930s, aiming to avoid wet and rainy conditions, although January often brings colder temperatures.
Record-breaking weather events include Reagan’s first inauguration in 1981 as the warmest on record, with a noon temperature of 55°F, and his second inauguration in 1985 as the coldest, at 7°F. Franklin D. Roosevelt’s second inauguration in 1937 holds the record for the rainiest, with 1.77 inches of rainfall. John F. Kennedy’s 1961 inauguration experienced the snowiest conditions, with eight inches falling the night before. The warmest nontraditional inauguration occurred on Aug. 9, 1974, when Gerald Ford was sworn in under hazy skies and a temperature of 89°F.
The upcoming inauguration may continue the tradition of challenging weather, underscoring the unpredictable and often stormy relationship between winter and this historic event.