Strong winds might keep balloons grounded during Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade


If the forecasts are correct, this year's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will look very different.
The stars of the show are the character balloons that fly high over spectators, but under New York City regulations, they can't go up when sustained winds exceed 23 mph and gusts exceed 34 mph, CNN reports. These rules were enacted in 1998, in response to an incident that occurred during the 1997 parade; strong winds caused the Cat in the Hat balloon to knock down a light pole, injuring four people.
The National Weather Service is forecasting sustained winds of 22 mph on Thursday, as well as wind gusts of 39 mph. If the sustained winds stay below 23 mph but the gusts go over the limit, officials will have to make the call that morning on whether the balloons go up. The last time the parade's balloons were grounded for weather-related reasons was in 1971.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Are free votes the best way to change British society?
Today's Big Question On 'conscience issues' like abortion and assisted dying, MPs are being left to make the most consequential social decisions without guidance
-
Rabies: is it a danger in the UK?
The Explainer The death of a British woman after a dog bite abroad has sparked widespread concern. What do we all need to know?
-
Quiz of The Week: 14 – 20 June
Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditions
Speed Read
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billion
Speed Read
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on record
Speed Read
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homes
Speed Read
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creature
Speed Read