At Obama Swearing-In, Watchers Will Swear at Cold

Though temps could be in the 30s, officials warn of long exposure
By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 16, 2009 5:01 PM CST
At Obama Swearing-In, Watchers Will Swear at Cold
Clifton Wayne Lee, 58, warms himself on a heating grate on Constitution Avenue in Washington.   (AP Photo)

The presidential inauguration is shaping up to be a trying event, what with huge crowds, restrictive security measures, and now, a chilly forecast, USA Today reports. Contingency plans range from the prudent—heated tents for the unwell—to the desperate. Organizers are trying to have "as many tour buses as possible come as close to the Mall as possible,” an official said.

Temperatures Tuesday in DC are expected to be in the mid-30s, high compared to the current cold but still risky. “People get confused and disoriented,” one doctor said, “and begin to take their clothes off.” Officials urged attendees to duck into museums to keep warm, and dress sensibly: “It is not a high-fashion weekend. It is important that people dress for utility.” (More Barack Obama stories.)

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