Grounding Of Big Balloons At Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Will Be A Game Time Decision
ByTwo things to check on Thursday morning: the injury status of your fantasy football players and the status of Macy's big balloons.
Macy's will decide whether to cancel all or some of its balloons, including Snoopy and Spongebob, for Thursday's Thanksgiving Day parade the morning of the event, USA Today reported. Current forecasts predict sustained winds of 20 mph and gusts of 36 mph; city rules forbid balloons from flying at 23 mph and/or 34 mph, respectably.
The and/or distinction could be important. According to USA Today and The New York Times, both types of winds must hit their marks to force a grounding; according to ABC News, just one type needs to exceed its limit.
"At this time, it is too early to make any determinations on the flight of the giant balloons," said Macy's spokesman Orlando Veras. "On Thanksgiving morning, Macy's works closely with the NYPD, who, based on real time weather data and the official regulations, determine if the balloons will fly and at what heights."
Each of the 15 large balloons (there are also 37 smaller balloons) will be manned by a NYPD sergeant, who will carry a wind detector instrument, ABC News reported. If winds near the threshold but don't break it, balloons can also be lowered to safer heights.
"We've done a lot of training on this," Police Commissioner Ray Kelly told ABC News. "The balloons as you know can be lowered to various heights. They can be lowered all the way down or they can be eliminated, not brought out at all. These are decisions that will be made as we go forward, depending on weather conditions."
Macy's trademark balloons haven't been grounded because of weather since 1971; however, the city limits of 20 mph and 36 mph were instituted in 1997 after swirling winds led Cat and the Hat into a light pole and seriously injured a woman, according to USA Today.
The balloons will be inflated, as usual, on Wednesday night, USA Today reported.