The balloons are still twisting in the wind.
A day before the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the forecast for wild wind gusts remains the same — and organizers and city officials will make a decision Thursday morning whether the 16 beloved balloons will fly.
The giant balloons cannot be flown when sustained winds exceed 23 mph and gusts exceed 34 mph, according to city regulations.
But on Thanksgiving Day, forecasters predict steady winds of up to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 50 mph, which would likely keep the balloons grounded.
Each balloon is designed to fly at different heights and angles based on its shape and wind conditions along the route, Macy’s spokesman Orlando Veras has said.
“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 and takes into account the weather data along the entire parade route and information from nearby weather stations,” he said.
But even if the balloons are grounded for the first time since 1971, the parade will go on.
“We will march on with a parade filled with entertainment for New York and the nation,” Veras said.



