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Coldest Inauguration Day in 40 years expected as polar vortex invades America

Frigid arctic air caused by the polar vortex is plunging temperatures for millions of Americans, including those attending the inauguration for Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance. Winds are forecast to be between 20 and 30 mph, dropping feels-like temperatures to around 11 degrees with the wind chill on Monday.

By Emilee Speck Source FOX Weather

Bitter cold temperatures expected for Inauguration Day in Washington, D.C.

President-elect Donald Trump will be sworn in for his second term on Monday amid a bitter blast of frigid air that has forced officials to move the event indoors. FOX News Senior Congressional Correspondent Chad Pergram joined FOX Weather on Sunday morning with more on how the dangerous cold is impacting Monday’s events in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON – President-elect Donald Trump's second inauguration will mark the coldest presidential ceremony in more than 40 years. Washington is forecast to have temperatures struggling to reach the mid-20s, along with gusty winds. 

Trump's second non-consecutive inaugural ceremony, scheduled for Monday, has been moved indoors due to the cold, wind and snow that are headed to the Washington metro area.

Frigid arctic air caused by the polar vortex is plunging temperatures for millions of Americans, including those attending the inauguration for Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance.

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Members of the military walk towards a vehicle blocking a street as snow falls in Washington, DC, on January 19, 2025, one day before the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP) (Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images) ( )

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Attendees stand in the snow outside a rally with US President-elect Donald Trump, not pictured, at Capital One Arena ahead of the 60th presidential inauguration in Washington, DC, US, on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025. Monday's presidential inauguration promises to be one of the coldest on record, prompting US officials to move the ceremony indoors to the Capitol Rotunda. Photographer: Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images ( )

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An attendee takes a photo while standing in the snow outside a rally with US President-elect Donald Trump, not pictured, at Capital One Arena ahead of the 60th presidential inauguration in Washington, DC, US, on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025. Monday's presidential inauguration promises to be one of the coldest on record, prompting US officials to move the ceremony indoors to the Capitol Rotunda. Photographer: Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images ( )

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An American flag is held in the snow outside the U.S. Capitol Building on January 19, 2025 in Washington, DC. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect  JD Vance  will be sworn in on January 20. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) ( )

According to the FOX Forecast Center, Monday's high will be near 25 degrees and the low will be around 12 degrees. 

For the Monday afternoon ceremony, winds are forecast to be between 20 and 30 mph, dropping feels-like temperatures to around 11 degrees with the wind chill. 

Snow began falling on Sunday across Washington and could leave up to 3 inches on the ground for Inauguration Day. 

The last time temperatures were lower for a presidential swearing-in ceremony happened in 1985 for President Ronald Reagan, whose ceremony was also moved indoors. 

Trump's second inauguration is only the third ceremony to be moved indoors due to weather since 1909. President William H. Taft's inauguration was also moved to the Senate Chamber in 1909 due to a blizzard that dropped 10 inches of snow in Washington. 

The most recent snowiest transfer of power happened in 1961 at President John F. Kennedy's ceremony when less than an inch of snow fell. A winter storm in 1961 dropped more than 7 inches between Jan. 18 and Jan. 20 ahead of JFK’s inauguration.