President-elect Donald Trump announced that his swearing-in ceremony, which will take place on Monday, has been moved inside the Capitol due to very low temperatures forecast in Washington. It will feel like -20 degrees Celsius.
The swearing-in was traditionally scheduled to take place outdoors, in front of the west front of the Capitol building. Due to difficult weather conditions on Friday, a decision was made to change the main element of the inauguration.
Donald Trump he will pledge allegiance to the United States Constitution in the rotunda of Congress. All the most important guests invited to this event will also be moved there. The president-elect himself confirmed this in a short statement on Friday.
The coldest swearing-in in 40 years?
Expert forecasts from the US National Weather Service (NSW) show that the maximum temperature on Monday in Washington will be around -6/-4 degrees Celsius. “Also, the winds will be gusty,” said Marc Chenard, an NWS meteorologist. He added that strong winds will cause the perceived temperature to range from -20 to -9 degrees Celsius.
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday will likely be the coldest three days in the District, according to the NWS Colombia for five years.
AccuWeather meteorologists forecast that this may be the coldest day of the swearing-in President of the United States since 1985, when Ronald Reagan was sworn in for a second term. 40 years ago the temperature was -13.8 degrees Celsius and Reagan also took the oath in the Congress rotunda.
Main photo source: PAP/EPA/GRAEME SLOAN