Nov 25, 2019

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons could be grounded due to wind

A balloon of Olaf from "Frozen" flies at the 2018 parade. Photo: Noam Galai/FilmMagic via Getty Images

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade might be without its signature balloons this week as New York City regulations prevent them from flying when winds exceed 23 mph and gusts top 34 mph, CNN reports.

Why it matters: The National Weather Service's forecast shows sustained winds of 22 mph and gusts of 39 mph during the parade, which will force city officials to make a last-minute call on whether or not the 16 balloons can take to the air.

The last time the parade's balloons were grounded due to inclement weather was in 1971, according to the New York Times.
In 1997, the Cat in the Hat balloon injured four people after being overtaken by strong winds, which sparked current the current regulations.

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Fadel Allassan, Rebecca Falconer

Powerful twin storms cause Thanksgiving travel "nightmare"

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport after a blizzard struck overnight in Bloomington, Minnesota. Photo: Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

Two powerful storm systems are causing chaos as they dump snow and heavy rain across the United States, threatening the Thanksgiving holiday plans of millions of Americans. And the "bomb cyclone" that struck the West Coast could bring a third storm to the east, the Washington Post reports.

What's happening: The wild weather "choked transportation across the center of the nation," the New York Times reports. Over 200 flights were canceled by early Thursday and over 3,000 more were delayed, per Flightaware. Denver was one of the first places to be impacted by the storms. On Tuesday, 463 flights were canceled there, as the Colorado capital was pummeled by heavy snow.

Go deeperUpdated Nov 28, 2019

Rebecca Falconer

In photos: Impact of powerful Thanksgiving storms across the U.S.

Drivers make their way along slick and snowy roads in Denver, Colorado. Photo: Joe Mahoney/Getty Images

Two powerful storm systems are leaving the Thanksgiving plans of millions of people in disarray across the United States.

The big picture: The systems have caused transport chaos after triggering heavy snowstorms, rainfall, a "bomb cyclone" with hurricane-force winds and tornadoes in some parts of the country. Here's what's been unfolding, in photos.

See photosNov 28, 2019

Rebecca Falconer

Thanksgiving storms bring snow, heavy rain and travel chaos

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport after a blizzard struck overnight in Bloomington, Minnesota. Photo:Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

Two powerful storm systems are causing chaos as they dump snow and heavy rain across the United States, threatening the holiday plans of millions of Americans on the eve of Thanksgiving. And the "bomb cyclone" that's been pummeling the West Coast could bring a third storm to the east, the Washington Post reports.

What's happening: The wild weather "choked transportation across the center of the nation," the New York Times reports. Over 100 flights were canceled Wednesday and hundreds more were delayed, per Flightaware.

Go deeperNov 28, 2019