by Emily Cahn

Officials said on Monday that inauguration day crowds are expected to be around 2 million people, rather than the 4 million to 5 million people previously reported, according to the Washington Post.

According to the article, previous crowd estimates were based on speculation. But airlines, charter bus companies and other sources said crowds will not be as large as they first thought.

The Secret Service has declined to make their crowd estimates public — citing outside factors like the weather, which could significantly alter the amount of people attending inauguration festivities.

Chris Geldart, director of the D.C. area office for the Department of Homeland Security, told the Post that he thought turnout would probably be 1.5 million to 2 million, “because it’s winter, and people getting in and out is going to be difficult.”

Similarly, the article also noted that many people who originally planned to attend the inauguration festivities may reconsider after hearing reports on traffic chaos.

While crowds may be smaller than previously reported, 2 million people is five times the attendance in 2005 for the inauguration of President George W. Bush, and officials say they must plan for the unexpected.