The weather has spoken: the balloons will fly this Thanksgiving.
Over the last few days, officials had anxiously watched the wind conditions in New York City, concerned that it wouldn’t be safe to include the 16 giant helium balloons that traditionally fly in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, as it snakes through 2.5 miles of Manhattan. According to regulations established in 1998, the city prohibits the giant balloons if sustained winds go above 23 miles per hour — or if gusts exceed 34 m.p.h. The National Weather Service had predicted winds could go as high as 26 m.p.h. with gusts up to 39 m.p.h. in Manhattan.
But on Thursday morning, the New York Police Department tweeted put the worries at rest, announcing the balloons will have their moment. Per NBC News, they’ll fly at a slightly lower level than usual, as it’s still a breezy day, with wind of 20 to 22 m.p.h.., per the NWS.
New York City mayor Bill de Blasio also announced the all-clear. “Good News, New York City: the winds are holding and the #MacysThanksgivingDayParade balloons will FLY!” he tweeted.
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade begins at 9 a.m. ET, and airs live from New York City on your local CBS or NBC station. It can also be streamed on CBS All Access.
The wind regulations were put in place after four people were injured by a Cat in the Hat balloon during a particularly windy Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1997.
Winter storms have wrecked havoc on Thanksgiving plans across the U.S. Much of the Western United States has been hit with snow from powerful storm systems, and the South west has faced rain and even flash flooding. Strong wind conditions on the East coast are causing “severe turbulence” on fights, per the NWS.
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