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Friday, January 16, 2009

Inauguration Cold You Can't Believe In

Posted by Eli Sanders on Fri, Jan 16, 2009 at 1:15 PM

689e/1232139193-whitehouse.jpg My computer tells me it's 20 degrees in DC, but I'd put it below that. A short time ago, after a brief walk outside left my face frozen so badly it was hard to speak, I was sent over to a discount department store to grab an emergency scarf and some long underwear. I found the place pillaged already and people (locals, tourists, everyone) alternately cursing and marveling at the temperature as they picked over the carcass of a long-johns display. This picture? It hurt to take, and I say this not to be a martyr but just to convey that it is impossible to do anything bare-handed in D.C. right now. Anything outside, anyway.

For the last day I've been spending most of my time among people who live and work here, so admittedly they're a little jaded on political spectacles, but these people are not feeling the need to stand in this stabbing, sub-freezing wind and listen to Beyonce and Bruce at the Lincoln Memorial on Sunday, or even Obama's inaugural address on Tuesday. The crowd estimates for the inaugural keep getting revised downward, and if this cold keeps up, and if the people I've been with are any indication, I would say revise downward again. I hope the Mall is filled from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial on Tuesday, as some predict, but I'm not sure even history can move enough Americans to be there in this weather.

Comments (14) RSS

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hmmmm I work 1 1/2 blocks from the white house, and I'll be damned if I stand in 20 degree cold in order to watch Stevie Wonder sing patriotic songs.

Posted by leftylawyer on January 16, 2009 at 1:19 PM

It's the humidity in DC- makes it feel more freezing in the winter and more hot in the summer. I remember it well from my childhood. (I remember going to the Clinton inauguration and being incredibly cold, and sort of cranky about it.)

Posted by Abby on January 16, 2009 at 1:35 PM

20 degrees isn't cold-- you'd think that place was built on a swamp or somethin'.

Posted by AJ on January 16, 2009 at 1:37 PM

It's supposed to be in the 30's next week, so it won't be quite as bad, but I hope it does keep some people away.

Posted by julia on January 16, 2009 at 1:44 PM

I wish it was 20 here in MN. It was a wonderful -22 this morning when I left for work in St. Paul, and that was before factoring in the windchill (which made it right around -50).

Posted by j on January 16, 2009 at 1:54 PM

Another Northwest weather wimp, defeated by the natural elements back East.

Posted by Hardy Boys on January 16, 2009 at 1:56 PM

Bundle up and shuffle your feet alot. That's what Chicago cops do. If you can't find long johns, try putting on two pairs of jeans. As long as you're dry and your head and extremities aren't exposed, you'll be fine. Just think of that first hot cocoa you'll enjoy during the Obama administration.

Posted by Joe M on January 16, 2009 at 1:59 PM

eli, come now, the high here in chicago yesterday was -1, before windchill. 20 degrees is downright balmy. obama would agree.

Posted by zombiesmmm on January 16, 2009 at 2:03 PM

Yeah, I don't know of any Washingtonian (DCer) who is attending the inauguration. It will be too crazy and they are closing our bridges, which is inconvenient if you live in Virginia. No, no, I'll watch on TV.

Posted by clearlyhere on January 16, 2009 at 2:04 PM

Waiting with bated breath for the first public evangelical whacknut to spout off that the cold is God's wrath for not electing their boy.

Posted by Dr_Awesome on January 16, 2009 at 2:14 PM

Just huddle together - a million people generate enough heat to power a small nation.

Posted by Will in Seattle on January 16, 2009 at 2:23 PM

Wow. Freezing weather in DC in January? Next you'll discover the miracle of steam-powered locomotives. (For JFK's inaugural, the Army broke out their flame-throwers to de-ice the sidewalks around the Capitol.)

Posted by Toe Tag on January 16, 2009 at 2:41 PM

It's due to be in the low 30s with fairly low winds all this weekend in DC. It's even due to be partly sunny on Tuesday. It'll be like spring to most of us from the northeast and midwest!

Posted by Laurie Mann on January 16, 2009 at 3:48 PM

Oh, come ON. Its been -30 in Montreal for about a week now. That's -20 Fahrenheit. When its 20 degrees Fahrenheit out, that's a RIDICULOUSLY WARM DAY here.

suck it up, man!

Posted by Jaya on January 16, 2009 at 5:02 PM