 "In frigid cold at -13°C, crowds gather for Trump inauguration")
Braving bitter cold and strong winds, thousands gathered in the US capital on Monday (January 20) to witness Donald Trump’s historic return to the presidency.
The Arctic blast sweeping across North America has brought record-breaking low temperatures, with Washington, DC, seeing a maximum of -4°C (25°F), BBC reported.
However, with the wind chill carried by gusts of up to 30 mph, temperatures were feeling as low as -13°C. So far, that has resulted in the coldest inauguration day since Ronald Reagan’s second inauguration in 1985.
The Arctic blast has brought dangerously low temperatures and the threat of snow and freezing rain to southern states like Texas and the Gulf Coast. Forecasters warn the extreme cold will persist for several days.
Despite the conditions, massive crowds filled the area around the Capitol to watch Trump, who replaces Joe Biden as the oldest US president to be sworn in.
Ceremonies moved inside Capitol
For the first time in nearly four decades, the bitter weather forced the inauguration ceremony, scheduled to happen at 12 pm EST (10:30 pm IST) to move indoors. Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance are now set to take their oaths inside the Capitol’s Rotunda.
Originally planned to take place on the Capitol steps, the change of venue was a safety measure as freezing temperatures, high winds, and icy conditions gripped the region.
Supporters brave the cold
Trump supporters endured similar harsh conditions on Sunday (January 19), standing for hours in freezing temperatures to attend his “victory rally”.
The massive crowds are not unexpected. After all, Trump’s inauguration is historic in more ways than one. He is only the second president in US history to return to power after losing a previous election, following Grover Cleveland in 1893.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsWhile DC experienced heavy snow on Sunday, the inauguration day itself is expected to be dry, with sunny spells offering some relief.
With inputs from agencies
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