WeatherWhys for January 20,2016 from accuweather.com

A big snowstorm moved into the Washington, D.C., area on the eve of the inauguration of John F. Kennedy in 1961. The snow was over before the ceremonies got under way, but nearly 8 inches of snow was on the ground in the nation's capital when Kennedy took the oath of office. The storm affected a broad area from Virginia to New England. In some areas, snowfall amounts approached 20 inches. The storm was also accompanied and followed by very cold air.