Stormy Weather Forces The Obamas To Briefly Delay Their Palm Springs Vacation
PALM SPRINGS (CBSLA.com) — Barack Obama and his family had to delay their Palm Springs vacation briefly Friday after bad weather forced their plane to be diverted.
After attending President Donald Trump's inauguration, the now-former first family departed from Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland and headed west.
Former White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said Obama "vowed to take his family to a destination that is warmer than Washington, D.C."
But it doesn't look like the Obamas will be getting much of a break from the cold, as they were greeted by heavy rain, fog and fierce winds when their plane was trying to land at Palm Springs International Airport at 3:30 p.m.
Stormy conditions impeded the landing, forcing the aircraft to hover over the desert for 40 minutes before diverting to March Air Reserve Base near Riverside, about 55 miles west of the Obamas' vacation destination.
The aircraft finally touched down just before 6 p.m. A motorcade picked up the family and drove them to the Coachella Valley.
A well-wisher caught their motorcade on her phone camera as it passed by.
About 8 p.m., the Obamas arrived at the Thunderbird Heights gated community in Rancho Mirage.
They are staying at the home of outgoing U.S. Ambassador to Spain James Costos and his husband, interior designer Michael Smith. He has been the White House decorator since 2008.
Obama had stayed at the home four times during his presidency. There have been rumors that Obama has plans to buy a house in Thunderbird Heights.
It is unclear how long the Obamas will stay in the desert. But the former commander-in-chief posted this tweet.
Hi everybody! Back to the original handle. Is this thing still on? Michelle and I are off on a quick vacation, then we'll get back to work.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) January 20, 2017
During earlier visits, Obama played golf with friends in Palm Springs, La Quinta and Rancho Mirage. But they may not get to do that on this trip as more rain is expected Sunday.
As for former Vice President Joe Biden, he and his wife, Jill, rode an Amtrak commuter train from Washington back home to Delaware.
Marching band members and alumni from Biden's alma mater, the University of Delaware, joined Delaware National Guard troops, school children and hundreds of other well-wishers to greet the Bidens in a celebration on Wilmington's riverfront.