These are the coldest US presidential Inauguration Days on record
Chilly temperatures forecast to dip to 22 degrees are forcing organizers to move Donald Trump’s second inauguration indoors.
The Hearst Television Data team analyzed temperature records from the and found that while rare, this isn’t an unprecedented move.
Inaugurations have been typically held outdoors since 1817, when James Monroe was sworn in under sunny skies.
This is at least the fifth time in presidential history that an inauguration has been forced inside due to weather. The previous four were:
- A blizzard prevented Willam Taft’s 1909 ceremony from being held outside.
- Ronald Reagan’s second inauguration in 1985 was moved indoors as it was 7 degrees.
- James Monroe's second inauguration in 1821 was held indoors due to a snowstorm.
- Andrew Jackson's second inauguration in 1833 was held indoors due to cold temperatures, snowy grounds and Jackson experiencing health issues
Since the 20th Amendment was ratified in 1933, inauguration ceremonies have been traditionally held on Jan. 20, while presidents prior were usually sworn in on March 4. Of the 22 January inaugurations that have happened since, Trump’s second inauguration is predicted to be tied with John F. Kennedy’s 1961 inauguration for the second coldest. Reagan's second Inauguration Day was the coldest on record at 7 degrees.
Editor's note: An earlier version of this story said that this would be the third time weather forced the inauguration indoors. This will be at least the fifth time.