NYPD gives approval for balloons to fly at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
By
Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
Published Nov 24, 2019 8:05 PM EST
It's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade this morning in New York City and there is breaking news concerning those iconic, giant balloons.
After much deliberation, the New York City Police Department announced early Thursday that the famed balloons at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City will be allowed to take flight.
“As of now the balloons will fly!” the NYPD's Midtown North Precinct tweeted shortly after 7 a.m.
The Snoopy the Astronaut, center, and Macy's Stars balloons are held down by protective netting before the start of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
The iconic balloons of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade can only be operated if sustained wind conditions stay below 23 mph and wind gusts are not expected to exceed 34 mph based on city regulations, according to Orlando Veras, a Macy’s Parade spokesman.
Conditions during the midday hours on Thanksgiving Day are forecast to exceed these thresholds in the New York City area at times.
A wind gust of 46 mph was reported at LaGuardia Airport around 8:30 a.m.
The 93rd edition of the parade is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. and will feature at least 16 balloons, according to the New York Post.
Utilities have been reporting downed trees and wires in northern and central New Jersey since sunrise on Thursday.
Wind gusts not accurately measured at Central Park
For those using the Central Park observation site, the equipment does not accurately depict wind strength in the region and should not be used in critical situations for wind measurement and determining wind chill and AccuWeather RealFeel® information.
Cumulative, official wind observations from surrounding airports such as Newark International, LaGuardia and JFK International should be used instead for determining the wind speed in Manhattan.
Why the concern for strong wind gusts?
The same storm that will bring rain and snow from the Midwest into Wednesday will cause winds to ramp up in coastal areas of the Northeast on Thanksgiving Day.
Gusts in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Kentucky ranged between 50 and 60 mph on Wednesday. The high winds caused thousands of power outages in the Chicago area alone.
"Gusts are forecast to frequent 30-50 mph from the northwest on Thanksgiving Day in the New York metro area," according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Courtney Travis.
Higher gusts are possible between the buildings where the wind is funneled and over the bridges where there are no obstructions.
"Winds this strong will be a safety concern for balloon handlers and spectators along the parade route," Travis said.
During the four-hour period between 3 and 7 a.m. EST Thursday, the strongest gust in the New York City area was 44 mph at JFK International Airport. As the sun climbs in the sky during the morning hours, winds are likely to increase as the sun mixes the lower layer of the atmosphere and allows stronger gusts from aloft to reach the ground. This process is called downward transfer of momentum.
The last time the parade proceeded without the balloons due to inclement weather was nearly 50 years ago in 1971, according to The New York Times.
Gusts as strong as forecast for the region can also break tree limbs and lead to sporadic power outages. Dangerous conditions are possible for high profile vehicles, especially those venturing over the high bridges.
While high winds may ease by Friday afternoon, blustery conditions may persist in New York City, as well as New England into the weekend.
Download the free AccuWeather app to get a more detailed forecast for your area. Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo
News / Severe Weather
NYPD gives approval for balloons to fly at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
By Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
Published Nov 24, 2019 8:05 PM EST
It's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade this morning in New York City and there is breaking news concerning those iconic, giant balloons.
After much deliberation, the New York City Police Department announced early Thursday that the famed balloons at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City will be allowed to take flight.
“As of now the balloons will fly!” the NYPD's Midtown North Precinct tweeted shortly after 7 a.m.
The Snoopy the Astronaut, center, and Macy's Stars balloons are held down by protective netting before the start of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
The iconic balloons of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade can only be operated if sustained wind conditions stay below 23 mph and wind gusts are not expected to exceed 34 mph based on city regulations, according to Orlando Veras, a Macy’s Parade spokesman.
Conditions during the midday hours on Thanksgiving Day are forecast to exceed these thresholds in the New York City area at times.
A wind gust of 46 mph was reported at LaGuardia Airport around 8:30 a.m.
The 93rd edition of the parade is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. and will feature at least 16 balloons, according to the New York Post.
Utilities have been reporting downed trees and wires in northern and central New Jersey since sunrise on Thursday.
Wind gusts not accurately measured at Central Park
For those using the Central Park observation site, the equipment does not accurately depict wind strength in the region and should not be used in critical situations for wind measurement and determining wind chill and AccuWeather RealFeel® information.
Cumulative, official wind observations from surrounding airports such as Newark International, LaGuardia and JFK International should be used instead for determining the wind speed in Manhattan.
Why the concern for strong wind gusts?
The same storm that will bring rain and snow from the Midwest into Wednesday will cause winds to ramp up in coastal areas of the Northeast on Thanksgiving Day.
Gusts in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Kentucky ranged between 50 and 60 mph on Wednesday. The high winds caused thousands of power outages in the Chicago area alone.
"Gusts are forecast to frequent 30-50 mph from the northwest on Thanksgiving Day in the New York metro area," according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Courtney Travis.
Higher gusts are possible between the buildings where the wind is funneled and over the bridges where there are no obstructions.
"Winds this strong will be a safety concern for balloon handlers and spectators along the parade route," Travis said.
During the four-hour period between 3 and 7 a.m. EST Thursday, the strongest gust in the New York City area was 44 mph at JFK International Airport. As the sun climbs in the sky during the morning hours, winds are likely to increase as the sun mixes the lower layer of the atmosphere and allows stronger gusts from aloft to reach the ground. This process is called downward transfer of momentum.
Related:
The last time the parade proceeded without the balloons due to inclement weather was nearly 50 years ago in 1971, according to The New York Times.
Gusts as strong as forecast for the region can also break tree limbs and lead to sporadic power outages. Dangerous conditions are possible for high profile vehicles, especially those venturing over the high bridges.
While high winds may ease by Friday afternoon, blustery conditions may persist in New York City, as well as New England into the weekend.
Download the free AccuWeather app to get a more detailed forecast for your area. Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo