Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade faces cold rain for 98th anniversary
The 98th Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade will be a very wet affair. The FOX Forecast Center said a Thanksgiving Day storm will bring rain for the entirety of the parade in New York City.
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade to be slammed with cold rain, but wind won't ground famous balloons
Thousands of people have lined the streets of New York City to watch the famous Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. And while wind won't be an issue for the balloons, those who are watching from the ground will have to deal with a cold rain as a winter storm sweeps across the Northeast.
NEW YORK – This year will mark the 98th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. Despite a winter storm slamming the Northeast on Thursday, the holiday tradition will go on as planned this year.
The Thanksgiving Day storm is bringing rain to the entirety of the parade route with some pockets of heavy downpours, but wind isn't expected to be an issue.
(FOX Weather)
The FOX Forecast Center said rain totals on Thursday are likely to be anywhere from a half-inch to an inch but should fall over the course of 6-12 hours.
The balloons featured in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade are massive, and wind plays a critical role in parage logistics and safety measures.
The FOX Forecast Center expects winds of about 5-10 mph with some higher gusts.
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(FOX Weather)
And that’s good news for those hoping to catch a glimpse of the balloons floating above the streets of New York.
Winds of that strength may not seem like much, but controlling the balloons can become much more difficult as winds increase.
The iconic balloons can’t fly if sustained winds reach 23 mph and/or if gusts reach 34 mph.
So far, it looks like the winds will stay below those thresholds.
![NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 28: Revelers gather as rain falls before the Annual Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 28, 2024 in New York City.]()
Image 1 of 4NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 28: Revelers gather as rain falls before the Annual Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 28, 2024 in New York City. (Kena Betancur)
![NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 28: Revelers gather as rain falls before the Annual Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 28, 2024 in New York City.]()
Image 2 of 4NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 28: Minnie Mouse Balloon used for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. (Kena Betancur)
![NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 28: Revelers gather as rain falls before the Annual Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 28, 2024 in New York City.]()
Image 3 of 4NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 28: Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade marchers wear ponchos to protect against the chilly rain falling in the Northeast. (Kena Betancur)
![NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 28: Revelers gather as rain falls before the Annual Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 28, 2024 in New York City.]()
Image 4 of 4NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 28: Rain falls on Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade participants. (Kena Betancur)
In 1997, winds tossed a balloon into a lamppost, causing it to crash to the ground and injuring a bystander. During the same parade, another balloon tore and deflated onto the street.
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is the second oldest in the country. It began in 1924, but there were some instances in which the parade wasn't held.
Philadelphia's parade is celebrating 105 years on Thursday.
Editor's Note: In a previous version, the article incorrectly stated that it was the 100th anniversary of the Macy's Day Parade. The story has since been corrected to the 98th anniversary.