High winds could ground balloons in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

The iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons could struggle to fly through the streets of Manhattan Thursday, with forecasts predicting strong winds that could put the balloons in violation of city regulations. 

The National Weather Service is forecasting a “breezy” Thanksgiving in New York City, with possible 30 to 40 mph gusts. 

New York City regulations would ground the inflatable characters with winds over 23 mph and gusts over 34 mph. 

The traditional balloons haven’t been grounded in nearly five decades, since the city did so in 1971, according to the New York Post. 

The regulations were put in place following an incident in 1997, when a “Cat in the Hat” balloon injured four people when it was overtaken by strong winds, according to CNN. Two women suffered serious head injuries and two others had minor injuries, The Associated Press reported at the time.