Dr. Jeff Masters' WunderBlog

Inauguration weather

Posted by: Dr. Jeff Masters, 1:11 PM GMT en Enero 19, 2009

Barack Obama won't have the weather as the first concern of his presidency, unlike some of his predecessors. The weather for Tuesday's swearing in ceremony promises to be precipitation-free, with a mix of sun and clouds. With temperatures in the low 30s and a moderate north wind of 10-15 mph, he'll have to bundle up, though. As the afternoon progresses, clouds will dominate for the parade, but the weather at the inauguration promises to be a non-story, unlike some previous occasions:

Most Dramatic and Tragic - 1841:
President William Henry Harrison was sworn into office on a cloudy, windy day, with temperatures in the mid to upper 40s. His speech lasted one hour and 40 minutes, and he rode a horse to and from the Capitol, without wearing a hat or overcoat. Pneumonia developed from a lingering cold he caught on that day and he died just one month later.

Almost as bad - 1853:
President Franklin Pierce was sworn into office during a snowstorm, with temperatures near freezing. Shortly after Pierce took his oath of office, as he began his inaugural address, heavier snow began falling, dispersing much of the crowd and ruining plans for the parade. Abigail Fillmore, First Lady to the outgoing President Millard Fillmore, caught a cold as she sat on the cold, wet, exposed platform during the swearing-in ceremony. The cold developed into pneumonia and she died at the end of the month.

Worst Weather Day - 1909:
President William H. Taft's ceremony was forced indoors due to a storm that dropped 10 inches of snow over the Capital city. The snow and winds began the day before, toppling trees and telephone poles. Trains were stalled, and city streets clogged, bringing all activity to a standstill. Sanitation workers shoveled sand and snow through the night. It took 6,000 men and 500 wagons to clear 58,000 tons of snow and slush from the parade route. Despite the freezing temperatures, howling wind, snow, and sleet, a large crowd gathered in front of the Capitol to view the inauguration, but the weather forced the ceremony indoors. Just after the swearing-in, the snow tapered off.

Figure 1. Inauguration day, 1909. Workers shovel away heavy snow from in front of President Taft's reviewing stand (left). President Taft and wife returning to the White House after the ceremony (right).

The material for this post was taken from an excellent Presidential Inaugural Weather web page put together by the National Weather Service forecast office in Washington D.C. The page has loads more information, for those interested.

Good luck, Mr. Obama!

I'll have a new post on Wednesday.
Jeff Masters

Categories: Climate Change

Permalink | A A A

Top of Page

Reader Comments

Display: 0, 50, 100, 200

Sort: Newest First - Order Posted

Viewing: 451 - 485

Page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 — Blog Index

451. FLWeatherFreak91 9:34 PM GMT en Enero 20, 2009
Quoting melwerle: Just checked our weather...slight chance of SNOW. wooo hooooo! What city? Member Since: Diciembre 1, 2006 Posts: 2 Comments: 3458

452. melwerle 9:38 PM GMT en Enero 20, 2009
Link Slight chance but i'll TAKE it! Member Since: Junio 28, 2006 Posts: 12 Comments: 1837

453. FLWeatherFreak91 9:41 PM GMT en Enero 20, 2009
Quoting melwerle: Link Slight chance but i'll TAKE it! :) Member Since: Diciembre 1, 2006 Posts: 2 Comments: 3458

454. all4hurricanes 9:43 PM GMT en Enero 20, 2009
Well Fanele is a cat 3 what is it with storms in the past year and skipping cat 2 status (not actually skipping but moving through the stage very quickly)like Bertha Omar Ike and Billy. Member Since: Marzo 29, 2008 Posts: 0 Comments: 2190

455. EvilKarkyBR 10:06 PM GMT en Enero 20, 2009
Quoting KEHCharleston: "...You need two plastic bread bags." I grew up in North Dakota and my mom made me do this in my snow boots anyway :) Not just Southerns do that!

456. SWFLDigTek 10:07 PM GMT en Enero 20, 2009
SEVERE WEATHER UPDATE: South Florida Stormwatch Member Since: Agosto 31, 2008 Posts: 117 Comments: 398

457. all4hurricanes 10:10 PM GMT en Enero 20, 2009
Ugh no chance of snow for the next week I don't like how all of you in Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi, got more snow and chances for snow then we did up in VA that really peeves me Member Since: Marzo 29, 2008 Posts: 0 Comments: 2190

458. GBlet 10:18 PM GMT en Enero 20, 2009
Don't feel bad all4, we've been missed all season, it really stinks. Moisture keeps riding up to the east of us. All I need is 6+ for a snow day! Member Since: Septiembre 13, 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 435

459. GBlet 10:22 PM GMT en Enero 20, 2009
As the days go by, I begin to worry about nader season. I bet we get it hard this year. Seems like the season gets worse with each passing year. Member Since: Septiembre 13, 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 435

460. HadesGodWyvern 10:48 PM GMT en Enero 20, 2009
weird difference from JTWC with RMSC with pressure.. Best status from NRL: 100kts 948 MB (T5.5) Best status from SSD: 115 knots 927 MB (T6.0) Best status from RSMC: 100kts 927 hPa (T6.0) Member Since: Mayo 24, 2006 Posts: 43 Comments: 36684

461. KEEPEROFTHEGATE (Mod) 11:25 PM GMT en Enero 20, 2009
Quoting NEwxguy: Hey,Bone,can you whip up a big nor'easter,I'm tired of all these little whimpy storms,that are a lot of work,and not much fun. no problem i will whip one up in 7 days from now for ya just let me reposition that weather ray gun from the south to the ne lol Member Since: Julio 15, 2006 Posts: 143 Comments: 40413

462. all4hurricanes 11:25 PM GMT en Enero 20, 2009
Quoting GBlet: Don't feel bad all4, we've been missed all season, it really stinks. Moisture keeps riding up to the east of us. All I need is 6+ for a snow day! Yes but nature taunts us first the prediction says snow and the day leading up are 15 degrees then the temperature raises to 34 and it rains then the temperature goes down to 15 again it is very annoying Member Since: Marzo 29, 2008 Posts: 0 Comments: 2190

463. dearmas 11:38 PM GMT en Enero 20, 2009
Why do I live in Florida???? Because it's nice and hotttt!!!!!! This cold sucks!!!!! :) Member Since: Agosto 23, 2006 Posts: 0 Comments: 115

464. Skyepony (Mod) 11:39 PM GMT en Enero 20, 2009
MIMIC is a sobering look at Fanele. The nightmare storm, that forms fairly close to land & intensifies rapidly on the way there. North side of the eye looks horrid. Member Since: Agosto 10, 2005 Posts: 144 Comments: 29266

465. hurristat 11:49 PM GMT en Enero 20, 2009
Quoting severstorm: just imagine, snow flying around at 100 mph. what next? this comment was a long time ago, but this has happened... a late season storm made landfall in Maine sometime in the 60s-70s, and it was snowing!!! Member Since: Octubre 15, 2008 Posts: 11 Comments: 2302

466. SevereHurricane 11:58 PM GMT en Enero 20, 2009
Quoting all4hurricanes: Ugh no chance of snow for the next week I don't like how all of you in Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi, got more snow and chances for snow then we did up in VA that really peeves me hehehe it sure was a fun day 12-11-08 in New Orleans,I hope you get your snow though. Member Since: Septiembre 7, 2008 Posts: 17 Comments: 1604

467. hurristat 12:01 AM GMT en Enero 21, 2009
Quoting all4hurricanes: HWFBura said CI# /Pressure/ Vmax 6.1 / 925.6mb/117.4kt 117.4kt=135mph but he could be wrong going by appearance it's a 135mph cat 4 and advisories are sometimes show lower wind speeds than actual especially in other oceans like hurricane Dean last year was a cat 5 south of Hispaniola but the advisories when I was tracking it said 150mph remember, they use 10-min sustained and we use 1-min sustained for measurement...keeping that in mind, it is possible that is both a Cat 3 and a Cat 4 on the SSHS Member Since: Octubre 15, 2008 Posts: 11 Comments: 2302

468. hurristat 12:04 AM GMT en Enero 21, 2009
Quoting biff4ugo: You ARE kidding right? He has lived and worked in Chicago and has been a Jr. Senator for 2 years in Washington DC. Your blood gets thick up there. 4 more HOURS! 4 yrs. in D.C....fyi Member Since: Octubre 15, 2008 Posts: 11 Comments: 2302

469. hurristat 12:11 AM GMT en Enero 21, 2009
Quoting NEwxguy: That paints a pretty funny picture,I always enjoy seeing the snow in the south and how people deal with it they have no idea, do they... (i'm from MI) Member Since: Octubre 15, 2008 Posts: 11 Comments: 2302

470. natrwalkn 12:12 AM GMT en Enero 21, 2009
Looks like the snow is about over here in Wilmington, NC. It sure was pretty today, but less than I was hoping for. Member Since: Agosto 14, 2008 Posts: 0 Comments: 67

471. HadesGodWyvern 12:18 AM GMT en Enero 21, 2009
467. hurristat 12:01 AM GMT on January 21, 2009 The Joint Typhoon Warning Center that has 100 knot is 1 minute sustained winds average.. even so it should actually have read 115 knots instead of 100 knots. Member Since: Mayo 24, 2006 Posts: 43 Comments: 36684

472. Drakoen 12:26 AM GMT en Enero 21, 2009
Looking forward to tonight with lows in the lower to mid 30s... Member Since: Octubre 28, 2006 Posts: 57 Comments: 29010

473. all4hurricanes 12:29 AM GMT en Enero 21, 2009
Fanele is going through an EWRC Member Since: Marzo 29, 2008 Posts: 0 Comments: 2190

474. weatherbro 12:30 AM GMT en Enero 21, 2009
I have a strange feeling that Wednesday will dip down much further then what their advertising Wednesday night here in Orlando. Forecast low is 27F. However, if the high pressure sits directly on to at the right time we could surpass 1977 and 1985! Although conditions are otherwise ripe, there's just one fly in the ointment(make that a camel or something inbetween) concerning frost-The very low dewpoint air tomorrow! Member Since: Mayo 26, 2007 Posts: 47 Comments: 1155

475. dearmas 12:34 AM GMT en Enero 21, 2009
Quoting weatherbro: I have a strange feeling that Wednesday will dip down much further then what their advertising Wednesday night here in Orlando. Forecast low is 27F. However, if the high pressure sits directly on to at the right time we could surpass 1977 and 1985! Although conditions are otherwise ripe, there's just one fly in the ointment concerning frost-The very low dewpoint air tomorrow! This cold suck, lol. Member Since: Agosto 23, 2006 Posts: 0 Comments: 115

476. Bobbyweather 12:49 AM GMT en Enero 21, 2009
Quoting all4hurricanes: Fanele is going through an EWRC I thought it was making landfall. Member Since: Septiembre 7, 2006 Posts: 88 Comments: 2470

477. Bobbyweather 12:50 AM GMT en Enero 21, 2009
By the way, all4hurricanes, your avatar is nice. That's TY Jangmi, right? Member Since: Septiembre 7, 2006 Posts: 88 Comments: 2470

478. hurristat 1:01 AM GMT en Enero 21, 2009
did anyone else's avatar just disappear? Member Since: Octubre 15, 2008 Posts: 11 Comments: 2302

479. HadesGodWyvern 1:16 AM GMT en Enero 21, 2009
Fiji Meteorological Services Tropical Disturbance Summary TROPICAL DEPRESSION SIX-F 9:00 AM FST January 21 2009 ====================================== At 21:00 PM UTC, Tropical Depression Six-F (1006 hPa) located at 13.8E 158.2W is reported as moving slowly. Position GOOD based on infrared/visible imagery with animation, peripheral observations, and latest QUIKSCAT Pass. Sea surface temperature is around 29C. Tropical Depression SIX lies embedded in a monsoonal trough under a 250 hPa diffluent region in a moderately sheared environment. Low level circulation center is exposed and lies to the west of the deep convection. TD SIX is expected to remain in this area under an upper ridge axis within the next 12-24 hours before moving into an area of increasing shear and cooler sea surface temperatures. Global models (US/UK/GFS] has picked up the system and moves it southwest then south with little intensification. POTENTIAL FOR TD SIX TO DEVELOP INTO A TROPICAL CYCLONE IN THE NEXT 24 TO 48 HOURS IS LOW. Member Since: Mayo 24, 2006 Posts: 43 Comments: 36684

480. HadesGodWyvern 1:18 AM GMT en Enero 21, 2009
Seychelles Meteorological Services Tropical Cyclone Warning Number TWELVE TROPICAL CYCLONE INTENSE FANELE (07-20082009) 4:00 AM Réunion January 21 2009 =========================================== At 0:00 AM UTC, Intense Tropical Cyclone Fanele (927 hPa) located at 20.6S 43.8E has 10 minute sustained winds of 100 knots with gusts of 140 knots. The cyclone is reported as moving southwest at 6 knots Dvorak Intensity: T5.5/6.0 Hurricane-Force Winds ====================== 40 NM from the center Storm-Force Winds ================= 80 NM from the center Gale-Force Winds ================ 100 NM from the center Near-Gale Force Winds ====================== 100 NM from the center extending up to 150 in the southwestern semi-circle Forecast and Intensity ======================= 12 HRS: 22.0S 45.1E - (DEPRESSION sur terre) 24 HRS: 23.1S 48.1E - 20 knots (PERTURBATION Tropicale) 48 HRS: 25.1S 50.7E - (EXTRATROPICAL) 72 HRS: 27.5S 53.0E - (EXTRATROPICAL) Additional Information ======================== On the last infrared imagery, eye is less well defined and has become cooler. The landfall is forecast in the south of Morondava, in the vicinity of Belo, within the next couple of hours. The system is expected to quickly cross Madagascar and be back at sea within the next 24 hours, without significantly re-intensifying Most of the available NWP models are in good agreement with the forecast track, but there is still some spread in speed. Member Since: Mayo 24, 2006 Posts: 43 Comments: 36684

481. futuremet 1:22 AM GMT en Enero 21, 2009
I hate the cold lol I hate it However, it will be interesting to see how far it goes down tomorrow. Windchill could make it feel in the 20s Member Since: Julio 19, 2008 Posts: 43 Comments: 4049

482. weatherbro 1:53 AM GMT en Enero 21, 2009
Quoting dearmas: This cold suck, lol. I think it's great! As long as it's not too long. I wonder if Florida's ever had a prolonged cold spell(not the wussy 60's but real cold)?:) Member Since: Mayo 26, 2007 Posts: 47 Comments: 1155

483. hurristat 2:06 AM GMT en Enero 21, 2009
Quoting HadesGodWyvern: ======================= 12 HRS: 22.0S 45.1E - (DEPRESSION sur terre) 24 HRS: 23.1S 48.1E - 20 knots (PERTURBATION Tropicale) 48 HRS: 25.1S 50.7E - (EXTRATROPICAL) 72 HRS: 27.5S 53.0E - (EXTRATROPICAL) I take it the first 2 terms mean depression over land and tropical depression? habla espanol?? vive en las filipinas, verdad? Member Since: Octubre 15, 2008 Posts: 11 Comments: 2302

484. hurristat 2:07 AM GMT en Enero 21, 2009
Quoting futuremet: I hate the cold lol I hate it However, it will be interesting to see how far it goes down tomorrow. Windchill could make it feel in the 20s oh no, that's my high!!! what will i ever do... jk... i think all you floridians need to come up to Michigan for a good, long winter. Member Since: Octubre 15, 2008 Posts: 11 Comments: 2302

485. futuremet 2:20 AM GMT en Enero 21, 2009
Quoting hurristat: oh no, that's my high!!! what will i ever do... jk... i think all you floridians need to come up to Michigan for a good, long winter. Lol, I am from the caribbean, and we do not get weather like this. Member Since: Julio 19, 2008 Posts: 43 Comments: 4049

Viewing: 451 - 485

Page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 — Blog Index

Top of Page

New Comment

Community Standards Policy Comments will take a few seconds to appear.

Post Your Comments

Please sign in to post comments.

or Join

Not only will you be able to leave comments on this blog, but you'll also have the ability to upload and share your photos in our Wunder Photos section.

About JeffMasters