Jan 13, 2009 10:41am

Inauguration Day — Weather Watch

The wind chill was 40 degrees below zero in North Dakota last night. As someone here said, "time to move." All that arctic air is heading east. That means Washington, DC. It is of course a bit early to predict the temperatures when Barack Obama is sworn in. But this has been a really chilly winter thus far. The Weather Service says that the average temperature in the nation’s capital on Inauguration Day hovers around 37 degrees. The AFP reports that there is a 5 percent chance of snow on the big day this year and a 12 percent chance of rain. They are already staging snow plows just in case. Here is Accuweather’s special inauguration weather prediction page. The weather has played a rich role on this historic day. William Harrison refused to wear a coat during his swearing in despite frigid temps and subsequently died of pneumonia a month later. The warmest day was for Ronald Reagan in 1981 when the thermometer shot up to 55 degrees. The coldest was Reagan’s too. In 1985 the temperature hovered around zero. They moved the proceedings inside the Capitol Rotunda. Kennedy in ’61 got snarled up in 8 inches of snow which fell on the eve of his historic day. It rained on Roosevelt’s parade in ’37. Which brings us back to Obama’s big day and the worry over the cold. Maybe it is a good thing more than 2 million people are expected to pack the capital. A little body heat can go a long way.

User Comments

They could always ask Al Gore to speak on Global Warming at the inauguration. That will chase the cold away, especially with all the hot air he has to blow.

Posted by: Lee | January 13, 2009, 2:06 pm 2:06 pm

Posted by: Kent | January 13, 2009, 2:20 pm 2:20 pm

I don’t care if it is going to be 50 below with 3ft of snow. I wouldn’t miss this for anything !!!

Posted by: Jane | January 13, 2009, 2:28 pm 2:28 pm

And the climatologists didn’t report that the Arctic ice pack grew last year, and that 50% of the world’s glaciers grew as well. Its all a very inconvenient lie.

Posted by: Brent | January 13, 2009, 2:33 pm 2:33 pm

Come on, he is going to be President, so let him do the cold, I have seen Presidents bear the rain sleet and snow, so I think he can stand a little cold.

Posted by: barbara gooch | January 13, 2009, 2:38 pm 2:38 pm

A little cold now – with a whole lot of heat later. I don’t envy him. I wish him luck; hope he does well for our sake.

Posted by: icy hot | January 13, 2009, 2:52 pm 2:52 pm

It seems as though the inauguration is the only thing that BHO supporters care about. After Jan 20th, when the hangovers have worn off, America will be left with an inexperienced Ivy league lawyer guarding against those that wish us harm. Him and all the Clinton retreads will be exposed as the inept people they are.
God bless, what used to be, the U.S. of A.

Posted by: J D | January 13, 2009, 2:55 pm 2:55 pm

A couple million people, 5000 porta potties, and freezing weather….sounds like a recipe for disaster.

Posted by: samhiguchi | January 13, 2009, 3:03 pm 3:03 pm

To enoughalready… Gee, you wouldn’t have voted for JM would you? Can’t you just wish Obama well for all our sakes?

Posted by: Ghound | January 13, 2009, 3:04 pm 3:04 pm

Hey, I remember watching Jackie and JFK during the inaugural ceremony, and it was c-o-l-d. I will be at this inauguration even if I have to crawl to get there – - -and I do have tickets,
Y-I-P-P-E-E!!!

Posted by: kizzy | January 13, 2009, 3:05 pm 3:05 pm

Why are people treating this like it is a Super Bowl?

Posted by: worker man | January 13, 2009, 3:11 pm 3:11 pm

Kent, looks like you’re the Gore propagandist in this article. Your (& Al’s) “preponderance of climatologists” perhaps haven’t heard about the growing Artic ice shield that rarely gets news coverage. I also hear that some members of the “preponderance” are having second thoughts. I like your line “global warming doesn’t mean that it’s getting warmer everywhere all the time”. So,let me figure this one out. Global warming means there is not always global warming all the time??? Then, if there is no global warming, why believe in it? What other baseless liberal causes do you believe in?

Posted by: Mihann | January 13, 2009, 3:21 pm 3:21 pm

My goodness just look at some of the nastiness up here. I’m in sunny, warm so cal..80 today. Are folks in the cold weather states getting a little cranky?

Posted by: ScorpRedhead | January 13, 2009, 3:27 pm 3:27 pm

To icy hot: Yup, LOTS of heat…the Iranians are already burning posters with his picture on them. Maybe when he invites them over for tea to talk things over, they will settle down.

Posted by: KB | January 13, 2009, 3:35 pm 3:35 pm

Very good, Lee. HA HA. But, of course, you know that the preponderance of climatologists (not just Al Gore) tell us that global warming doesn’t mean that it’s getting warmer everywhere all the time. Global warming is most noticeable in polar regions. At mid latitudes what has been most noticeable are changing weather patterns.
Posted by: Ken
______________________________________
In the polar regions, the ice melts in some parts, then freezes in others. The media, and the global warming activists make sure we see the parts that melt but never show the parts that are freezing.
As to the weather, if it is hot in the summer, it’s due to global warming. If the weather is warm on Innauguration Day, it is due to global warming. If the weather is freezing cold, it’s due to global warming. The activists are always right whether they’re right or wrong.
As to the average temperature of the earth, it is 59 degrees F. It has been that way since 1998 after it rose a grand total of ONE degree F in the last 100 years.

Posted by: marco | January 13, 2009, 3:57 pm 3:57 pm

Obama has lived in Chicago for some time. The “Windy City” is known for sub-freezing temperature so it will be nothing new for him or his family. They will manage this weather.

Posted by: Matt | January 13, 2009, 3:57 pm 3:57 pm

It’s a scary thing to think about….Obama actually being President. I’ll support him because of his office and I do hope that he does well but I’ll take this opportunity to say… What were we thinking??!

Posted by: Debsy | January 13, 2009, 4:10 pm 4:10 pm

Hey Debsy………he has already said he can’t keep all his campaign promises…………..lololol…….what a surprise that is to all….give us a break. We are in serious trouble. More then you know. Things will be much better though when he sits down with Iran and has his chat and tea. Start to pray and don’t stop.

Posted by: outseln | January 13, 2009, 4:14 pm 4:14 pm

Posted by: spacerook1 | January 13, 2009, 4:15 pm 4:15 pm

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! A just and merciful God will provide mild weather for the annual March for Life on Thursday, however!

Posted by: JerseyWarren | January 13, 2009, 4:20 pm 4:20 pm

Hey Debsy………he has already said
he can’t keep all his campaign
promises…………..lololol…….what a
surprise that is to all….give us a break.
**********************************
Yeh, I remember George “read my lips,
no new taxes” Bush and George W.” we’ll
have a humble foreign policy” Bush. LOLOL

Posted by: spacerook1 | January 13, 2009, 4:20 pm 4:20 pm

Come rain, come sunshine we will be there!

Posted by: Rosie | January 13, 2009, 4:21 pm 4:21 pm

The elections are over folk’s we are now all in the same boat…..let’s just pray that we hold on till we as a country and people get through this hell we are now in. Obama, or no Obama we have to all work together. I really mean this stop the fighting between us it’s all over folks. Lets now pull for American and hope for Sunny skies.
God Bless America

Posted by: outseln | January 13, 2009, 4:21 pm 4:21 pm

Are you liberals more excited that BHO is going to be President? Or that he looks black, you voted for him , and now your white guilt is a little less burdensome?
If the latter, then you are showing your patented-liberal double standard. Remember, “judge a man based on his character, not his skin color.” And judging from BHO’s character, he gets no respect from this American.

Posted by: enoughalready | January 13, 2009, 5:07 pm 5:07 pm

You mean the sunshine will not reign down from the heavens? The clouds will not bow down to the great barry O? Ha!
If it rains on this socialist’s parade, i will certainly be chuckling. Watching all of those people out in the rain wasting their hard-earned $$$, only to go listen to a man who promises to take more $$$ from them, is not my idea of a good time.

Posted by: barrryisafraud | January 13, 2009, 5:19 pm 5:19 pm

spacerook–I judge character in many ways. Personality, social graces, mannerisms, BY THE FRIENDS AND “ASSOCIATES” one keeps, etc…
People voted for BHO based on his promise of change and hope. I HOPE those people see a CHANGE that I don’t, because all I see is Clinton administration hacks. Only this time, BHO is leading.

Posted by: enoughalready | January 13, 2009, 6:06 pm 6:06 pm

I don’t intend to view the ceremony. I cannot imagine this proven liar is worthy of my time. What a sickening dog and pony show, what a mockery of this country. It is interesting that Democrats get so angry when someone comments about their man. Why he is off limits? It is a free country, and we are entitled to our feelings amd observations and freedom of speech – at least this year. Oh, and although I am a Republican, I would say the same thing about George Bush’s lies, so don’t get bent out of shape any more than you already are. My sorrow is that anyone would believe that this man is going help this country one bit. Well, we have survived a lot as a country, I think we can survive another guy selling a snake oil cure.

Posted by: Lisa Again | January 13, 2009, 8:11 pm 8:11 pm

I love this country and am fearful what the Dems have in store for us. Obama is a globalist and has said we are to sacrafice and he wants a militia. That scares me!
All I can say is for all you conservatives join The Patriotic Resistance!

Posted by: Mary Sewing | January 13, 2009, 8:31 pm 8:31 pm

By the way, if we have a blizzard and deep snow (on inauguration day) this will prove that he is NOT the Messiah!

Posted by: political junky4 | January 13, 2009, 8:47 pm 8:47 pm

Well, this is a rather empty article. ABC, if you are going to publish a piece on the history of Inauguration weather, then do, try, to make it historically substantive.
The rest of you sound like hysterical conspiracy theorists. Just to point out one example: Mary Sewing cries out in fear that Obama wants a “militia.” How amusing, since the anti-gun-control lobby has been pointing out for years that the Second Amendment insists that the country SHOULD have a well-armed “citizen militia”. You people really need to get your act together, so that you’ll all be more consistent in your complaints and criticisms.
As for a “citizen militia,” Mary Sewing, we’ve had one for many years. It is called “The National Guard.” You have heard of it, haven’t you?

Posted by: Eleonora27 | January 13, 2009, 9:06 pm 9:06 pm

If Obama were any kind of man and President he would tell Washington to forget the party and lets save the money. Why spend millions to party? He should just get down to business. Doesn’t he realize that people have no jobs and are going hungry. No lets just party all day and spend lots of tax payers money. I am so impressed…..NOT

Posted by: b | January 14, 2009, 8:24 am 8:24 am

Come on – I’m Republican, but a ceremony is needed. All the fanfare in itself gives jobs and gets the money circulating (hotel, restaurants, transportation,etc.)
This next year will be interesting.
I hope he does great!
If he does, it’s all good.
If he doesn’t, well, there will be great entertainment value at the very least.

Posted by: waiting | January 14, 2009, 9:12 am 9:12 am

I think I have heard someone say it would be a cold day in hell when we the United States elected a socialist. Well if you’ve driven in DC traffic, and we did elect a socialist.
Coincidence?

Posted by: jay | January 14, 2009, 10:53 pm 10:53 pm

At least after that he won’t have to walk in chicago street as a community organizer* yeah people u heard me.

Posted by: jean | January 15, 2009, 1:58 am 1:58 am

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Inauguration Day — Weather Watch

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