Arctic air is set to bring bone-chilling temperatures across much of the U.S. in the coming days, making for a far colder-than-average Inauguration Day.
Cold front sweeping the nation: How cold will it get in New York?
According to the National Weather Service, an intense blast of arctic air will enter the north-central U.S. before spreading across the country over the weekend. Temperatures in the northern Plains and Midwest could plunge to subzero highs on Sunday and Monday, with lows dipping below -20°F. Wind chills will make conditions even more dangerous.
In New York, highs will drop to the upper teens on Sunday and closer to 10-12°F in parts of western and central New York on Monday and Tuesday. The Hudson Valley and New York City regions will experience slightly milder highs in the mid-20s.
Trump Inauguration Day 2025 forecast
Donald Trump’s inauguration will take place on Monday, Jan. 20, in Washington, D.C. Events begin Saturday, culminating in the swearing-in ceremony at the Capitol.
Here’s the current D.C. forecast:
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Sunday, Jan. 19: High of 34°F, low of 17°F, with a 60% chance of snow.
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Monday, Jan. 20: High of 23°F, low of 6°F, sunny and clear.
New York City weather vs. D.C.
New York City, Trump’s former primary residence, will also see winter weather:
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Sunday, Jan. 19: High of 36°F, low of 21°F, with 1-3 inches of snow likely.
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Monday, Jan. 20: High of 26°F, low of 10°F, sunny and cold.
Historical Inauguration Day weather facts
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Normal Temperatures in D.C.: Average high of 45°F, low of 30°F. Noon temperatures are typically 37°F with a wind chill of 31°F.
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Most Dramatic Inauguration: In 1841, President William Henry Harrison delivered a two-hour speech in freezing conditions without a coat, later dying from pneumonia.
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Coldest Traditional Inauguration: Jan. 21, 1985 (Ronald Reagan’s second term), with a high of 17°F and wind chills as low as -20°F.
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Warmest Traditional Inauguration: Jan. 20, 1981 (Ronald Reagan’s first term), with a high of 55°F.
Recent Inauguration Day weather highlights
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2021 (Joe Biden): 42°F, mostly cloudy, with snow flurries before the ceremony.
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2017 (Donald Trump): 48°F, cloudy, with light rain during the parade.
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2009 (Barack Obama): 28°F, breezy, with wind chills in the mid-teens.
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1981 (Ronald Reagan): 55°F, mild and mostly cloudy.
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1977 (Jimmy Carter): 28°F, sunny with wind chills in the teens.
Includes reporting by USA Today Network reporters Cheryl McCloud and Doyle Rice
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Trump Inauguration Day 2025 weather forecast. How cold will it be?
