Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloons May Be Grounded Due to Strong Winds

By: Skylar Mulrooney

Strong winds may ground the much-beloved balloons at this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The National Weather Service is calling for sustained winds of 22 mph and wind gusts of 39 mph during the parade.

“The sustained winds do not exceed the regulations, but the gusts do. Officials will have to monitor wind conditions and decide whether to allow the balloons to be flown,” CNN reported. “They’ll likely have to make that call on Thursday, as wind conditions can quickly change. The last time the parade’s balloons were grounded due to inclement weather was 1971, according to the New York Times. The good news is this year will be much warmer than last year’s parade. The National Weather Service confirmed a low of 19°F that morning, which made it the second-coldest Thanksgiving Day in the city’s history. This year, it’s forecast to be 44-47°F.”

Macy’s spokesman Orlando Veras said it’s too early to make a decision regarding the balloons. “On Parade morning, Macy’s works closely with the NYPD, who, based on the current weather data and the official regulations, determine if the balloons will fly and at what heights,” Veras said in a statement. “Each is designed to fly at different heights and angles based on their shape and scale and the exact wind conditions along the route. The decision on adding the balloons to the lineup is made by NYPD and Macy’s officials just prior to the start of the Parade.”

The regulation was passed “after a windy Thanksgiving in 1997 when a Cat in the Hat balloon knocked down a lighting pole, injuring four people, according to northjersey.com. “The balloons were tested earlier in the month in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Balloons are flown there to make sure the new ones can fly safety.”

In an effort to help America’s cause, the rubber used to make the Macy’s Day Parade floats were donated to the American military. More than two million people attended the 1945 Macy’s Day Parade, and this popular New York City event has continued to grow ever since.

Due to rubber and helium shortages, Macy’s canceled the parade from 1942 to 1944. The parade returned in 1945, and in 1946 got a new route, which started at 77th Street and Central Park West and ended at 34th Street—half the length of the previous route.

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade Route begins on 77th Street and Central Park West at 9am sharp and it runs until about noon. It is recommended that parade-goers arrive at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade no later than 6:30am to get the best viewing spots available.