Whether people plan to celebrate, protest, or simply stay home, it looks like Mother Nature will cooperate for the 2021 Inauguration Event in Washington, DC. High pressure over the Mid Atlantic will keep precipitation out of the region, while also keeping temperatures seasonably cold.
On the morning of Wednesday, January 20, President Donald Trump will be celebrated in a departure ceremony at Joint Base Andrews. According to reports by the AP, officials are considering a color guard, military band, and 21-gun salute for the event. After that ceremony, President Trump is expected to fly to his residence in Florida where weather will be just as fair and dry as Washington, DC, albeit warmer.
At noon, President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris are due to be sworn in on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol building. After they take their oaths of office, President-Elect Biden is expected to deliver an inaugural address. However, due to security concerns, the region will be shut down to most visitors. According to the FBI, they’ve received information warning of “armed protests” in the nation’s capital as well as in other state capitals.
“In light of the storming of the US Capitol on 6 January, planned events in Washington, DC, in the lead up to and day of Inauguration Day offer continued opportunities for violence targeting public officials, government buildings, and federal and local law enforcement,” read a statement from the FBI. FBI Director Christopher Wray said Thursday that authorities are “tracking calls for potential armed protests and activity leading up to the inauguration” and “monitoring all incoming leads.” However, the Department of Homeland Security downplayed the threat, releasing a statement saying there are “no specific credible threats” around the inauguration.
One thing that won’t be violent will be the weather. The current forecast calls for mostly sunny skies and a temperature of 40 degrees at noon on Wednesday.
