How a surprise snowstorm almost spoiled Kennedy's inauguration 60 years ago [View all]

How a surprise snowstorm almost spoiled Kennedy’s inauguration 60 years ago

'Since presidential inaugurations moved from March to January in 1937, none have stirred up as much weather drama as John F. Kennedy’s in 1961, when a surprise snowstorm the day before brought Washington to a standstill.

With a little more than 24 hours until the inaugural ceremony, the forecast on Jan. 19, 1961, called for a mix of rain and snow and little accumulation. By late the same night, 8 inches of wind-whipped snow had paralyzed the metropolitan area.

The snow began gently that afternoon but rapidly increased in intensity. Federal workers were sent home early, and area roadways became clogged.

The mass exodus from the city and increasing snowfall led to “the most crippling traffic jam (for its time),” according to a historical summary from the National Weather Service. “Hundreds of cars were marooned and thousands of cars were abandoned.”

At the height of the storm, National Airport, which shut down due to the snow, reported zero visibility — a total whiteout.'>>>

https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2021/01/19/kennedy-inauguration-weather-1961/?