Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade moves forward despite windy threat
Photo credit: Getty Images | parade
Wind, wind, go away, die down before the parade.
That'll be the mantra at the 85th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Thursday as the threat of a gusty morning keeps organizers watching the weather closely.
Fortunately, it looks like the stiffest gusts will hit Wednesday.
Winds of more than 23 mph and gusts of 34 mph would pose safety risks and require the 15 giant balloons to be grounded, which hasn't happened since the 1990s, according to Macy's.
"The real problem could be Wednesday. It's going to be a little rough when they're blowing up the balloons" in Central Park, warned AccuWeather meteorologist Steve Travis.
On Wednesday night, wind gusts will reach 35 miles per hour, and will continue into Thursday morning, said.
Gusts could reach 15 to 20 mph during the parade, but will die down throughout the day, he added.
High-flying balloons are the signature staple of the event, and aside from the classics -- Snoopy, Kermit and Santa -- this year will feature new ones such as Sonic the Hedgehog and B. Boy, a big-eyed balloon designed by director Tim Burton.
Viewers can also expect popular musical acts, including Cee Lo Green, Mary J. Blige and "American Idol" winner Scotty McCreery.
The festivities will air live from 9 a.m. to noon Thursday on NBC.
Tags: News , Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade , Cee Lo Green , Mary J. Blige
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What are you most excited about for Thanksgiving?
The parade! Dinner, mmm Hangin with the family I'll tweet my answer @amNewYork
