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Big Balloons at Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade Might Be Grounded (Sorry, Kids!) Big Balloons at Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade Might Be Grounded (Sorry, Kids!)
(32 minutes later)
Astronaut Snoopy might not be cleared for take off. The famously buoyant SpongeBob SquarePants could wind up deflated and depressed. Olaf, the garrulous snowman from “Frozen,” could find himself melting into a heaping puddle on the pavement.Astronaut Snoopy might not be cleared for take off. The famously buoyant SpongeBob SquarePants could wind up deflated and depressed. Olaf, the garrulous snowman from “Frozen,” could find himself melting into a heaping puddle on the pavement.
If the forecast for high winds holds, the most famous balloons in America, which float over Manhattan every Thanksgiving in the annual Macy’s parade, might get grounded this year.If the forecast for high winds holds, the most famous balloons in America, which float over Manhattan every Thanksgiving in the annual Macy’s parade, might get grounded this year.
(Sorry, kids! There’s always Disney Plus.)(Sorry, kids! There’s always Disney Plus.)
Character balloons have been a staple of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade since 1927. But as the holiday approaches, meteorologists are forecasting heavy winds and strong gusts that could keep the parade’s big balloons from taking flight.Character balloons have been a staple of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade since 1927. But as the holiday approaches, meteorologists are forecasting heavy winds and strong gusts that could keep the parade’s big balloons from taking flight.
Foul weather is threatening Thanksgiving celebrations across the country, including a storm dropping snow from Colorado to the Great Lakes and forecasts of hurricane-force winds on the West Coast.
The final decision on whether the parade’s 16 giant balloons get pulled from the lineup won’t be made until Thursday morning, officials said. They cautioned that it was still too early to know whether the balloons would be aloft for the event’s 9 a.m. start.The final decision on whether the parade’s 16 giant balloons get pulled from the lineup won’t be made until Thursday morning, officials said. They cautioned that it was still too early to know whether the balloons would be aloft for the event’s 9 a.m. start.
“It’s going to be a game-day decision,” said Chief Rodney Harrison, the Police Department’s chief of patrol.“It’s going to be a game-day decision,” said Chief Rodney Harrison, the Police Department’s chief of patrol.
According to city regulations, the balloons cannot fly if there are sustained winds above 23 miles per hour or if gusts exceed 34 m.p.h. As of Tuesday morning, the National Weather Service was predicting that Thanksgiving Day would bring winds of up to 25 m.p.h, with gusts of up to 38 m.p.h. throughout the New York region.According to city regulations, the balloons cannot fly if there are sustained winds above 23 miles per hour or if gusts exceed 34 m.p.h. As of Tuesday morning, the National Weather Service was predicting that Thanksgiving Day would bring winds of up to 25 m.p.h, with gusts of up to 38 m.p.h. throughout the New York region.
Matthew Wunsch, a meteorologist at the Weather Service, warned that gusts in the densely built parts of Manhattan, where tall buildings create a wind tunnel, could rise even higher.Matthew Wunsch, a meteorologist at the Weather Service, warned that gusts in the densely built parts of Manhattan, where tall buildings create a wind tunnel, could rise even higher.
“It’s going to be windy regardless,” Mr. Wunsch said. “But the buildings make it a lot more variable.”“It’s going to be windy regardless,” Mr. Wunsch said. “But the buildings make it a lot more variable.”
Macy’s also has a licensed meteorologist on site every year to observe conditions, monitor winds and help make the decision about the floating characters in each year’s celebration.Macy’s also has a licensed meteorologist on site every year to observe conditions, monitor winds and help make the decision about the floating characters in each year’s celebration.
“We are always attuned to weather conditions for Parade Day,” Orlando Veras, a Macy’s spokesman, said in a statement. “We monitor the weather on a daily basis, but at this time, it is too early to make any determinations.”“We are always attuned to weather conditions for Parade Day,” Orlando Veras, a Macy’s spokesman, said in a statement. “We monitor the weather on a daily basis, but at this time, it is too early to make any determinations.”
Controlling a massive balloon down the two-mile parade route can be a challenge in the best of conditions. The biggest of the balloons measures between 50 and 60 feet tall and can be just as long.Controlling a massive balloon down the two-mile parade route can be a challenge in the best of conditions. The biggest of the balloons measures between 50 and 60 feet tall and can be just as long.
The balloons also weigh hundreds of pounds and require dozens of trained balloon handlers to maneuver them through streets lined with gawking spectators and hulking buildings.The balloons also weigh hundreds of pounds and require dozens of trained balloon handlers to maneuver them through streets lined with gawking spectators and hulking buildings.
To help avoid crashes and other catastrophes, each floating behemoth is assigned a supervisor, Chief Harrison said. As the inflated characters hover their way downtown, the supervisors instruct handlers to reel them lower or higher based on changing wind conditions.To help avoid crashes and other catastrophes, each floating behemoth is assigned a supervisor, Chief Harrison said. As the inflated characters hover their way downtown, the supervisors instruct handlers to reel them lower or higher based on changing wind conditions.
Each balloon has its own “predetermined flight risk” based on its size and weight, Chief Harrison said.Each balloon has its own “predetermined flight risk” based on its size and weight, Chief Harrison said.
The Police Department also has seven wind-monitoring devices, called anemometers, to measure gusts along the route.The Police Department also has seven wind-monitoring devices, called anemometers, to measure gusts along the route.
If the giant balloons are grounded, Mr. Veras said, it would be only the second time in the history of the Macy’s parade that they were forbidden from taking flight. The first was in 1971, when a cold, wet and windy Thanksgiving kept the balloons on the ground.If the giant balloons are grounded, Mr. Veras said, it would be only the second time in the history of the Macy’s parade that they were forbidden from taking flight. The first was in 1971, when a cold, wet and windy Thanksgiving kept the balloons on the ground.
New York City’s balloon regulations came after an accident during the parade in 1997, when strong winds swept the giant Cat in the Hat balloon into a lamppost. Part of the lamppost broke off and fell onto parade spectators, injuring four, including a 33-year-old woman who suffered a serious head injury and spent nearly a month in a coma.New York City’s balloon regulations came after an accident during the parade in 1997, when strong winds swept the giant Cat in the Hat balloon into a lamppost. Part of the lamppost broke off and fell onto parade spectators, injuring four, including a 33-year-old woman who suffered a serious head injury and spent nearly a month in a coma.
The accident led city officials to enact stricter guidelines for the use of gargantuan balloons during high winds.The accident led city officials to enact stricter guidelines for the use of gargantuan balloons during high winds.
Even if the giant balloons are pulled, the parade will go on. Macy’s still plans to bring out its smaller inflatables, the themed floats will sail down the street and Broadway performers, musicians and marching bands from across the country will still serenade the assembled crowds.Even if the giant balloons are pulled, the parade will go on. Macy’s still plans to bring out its smaller inflatables, the themed floats will sail down the street and Broadway performers, musicians and marching bands from across the country will still serenade the assembled crowds.
More than three million New Yorkers and visitors hit the streets of Manhattan to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, officials said, with tens of millions expected to watch it televised on NBC.More than three million New Yorkers and visitors hit the streets of Manhattan to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, officials said, with tens of millions expected to watch it televised on NBC.