The inauguration of Gov.-elect Jeff Landry and other state officials has moved from Monday to Sunday due to severe weather, Landry's office announced.
Landry was set to be sworn in as Louisiana's 57th governor in a Monday morning ceremony on the front steps of the State Capitol in Baton Rouge that also included the lieutenant governor, the attorney general and other state officials.
Instead, he and others will be sworn in Sunday at 4:30 p.m., Landry spokesperson Kate Kelly said. The ceremony will still take place outside, and the state will still provide limited free parking for those who attend.
The inauguration ceremony for the state Legislature, which was set to be held indoors at the Capitol, will proceed as originally scheduled Monday, at 10 a.m., according to a spokesperson for the Legislature. So too will Landry's inauguration ball, set to be held at the Raising Cane's River Center in Baton Rouge, proceed as scheduled Monday at 7 p.m.
There is a 100% chance of thunderstorms Monday in Baton Rouge, according to The Weather Channel, with temperatures reaching a high of 68 degrees.
On Sunday, however, it will be mostly cloudy, with only a 7% chance of rain. Temperatures will reach 61 degrees.
Aside from the governor, Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser, Attorney General-elect Liz Murrill, Secretary of state-elect Nancy Landry, Treasurer-elect John Fleming, Insurance Commissioner-elect Tim Temple and Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain will be sworn in Sunday to escape the rain.
The state will provide 4,200 free parking spaces at the Galvez Parking Garage at 504 North Street, the LaSalle Parking Garage at 521 Third Street, and the Welcome Center Parking Garage at 101 North Street. Paid parking is also available.
Though their event has moved up by a day, Landry and other officials technically won't take power until Monday at noon. That's in line with state law, which sets the date for the transfer of elected power as the second Monday the January after a statewide election.