NYC area poised for 35 mph wind gusts, chilly temps on Thanksgiving

Wind Turbulence Expected in Big Apple on Thanksgiving

A severe windstorm is forecasted for the New York area, which could pose a challenge for Macy's iconic Thanksgiving parade, featuring beloved pop culture icons. The National Weather Service has issued warnings of sustained winds of 15 to 20 mph and gusts reaching as high as 35 mph, set to hit the city on Thursday.

For spectators gathered in Central Park West and Sixth Avenue in Manhattan, it's essential to bundle up against the cold weather. Meteorologist Bryan Ramsey notes that even though temperatures will be above freezing, the wind chill factor could drop to mid-30s.

The stormy weather is expected to begin Wednesday night as temperatures plummet from nearly 60 degrees to the upper 30s. As the cold front moves through tonight, colder air and stronger winds are forecasted to take hold.

Macy's officials, along with the NYPD, are closely monitoring the conditions and will make a final decision on whether the balloons will fly during the parade before it begins. The company recalls the 1997 incident when high winds caused a Cat in the Hat balloon to crash into a lamppost, resulting in a serious injury to a bystander.

On Friday, the gusts are predicted to peak at 40 to 45 mph during the day, with temperatures ranging from low 40s and wind chills that feel more like the 30s. Overnight lows could even drop into the 20s due to the harsh winds.

The good news is that warmer weather will return on Saturday as the winds calm down, while Sunday's forecast promises temperatures in the mid-50s.

OMG, can u believe this?! A Thanksgiving parade with WIND TURBULENCE? That's like, not exactly what I'd call a "turkey-day" experience . But for real tho, 15 to 20 mph winds and gusts up to 35 mph is no joke. Like, how r u supposed to hold onto those balloons? And Central Park West and Sixth Avenue are gonna be FROSTY, cold temps in the mid-30s with wind chill . Hopefully Macy's can make it work, don't wanna see any sad faces . On a bright side tho, warmer weather is comin' on Sat & Sun, so that's def a silver lining !

ugh, can't they just move the parade for once? like, it's not like it's gonna be the end of the world if they push it back a day or two. and what's with the weather forecast being so unreliable? one minute it's sunny, next minute it's snowing... anyway, hope everyone stays warm & safe out there

Omg u guys can't believe it ! Macy's Thanksgiving parade is gonna be cancelled bc of strong winds . They had to cancel it last time when a balloon flew into a lamppost and hurt someone... that was crazy . I'm so sad i was planning on watching the balloons with my fam . But, yay! Warm weather is coming back by Saturday , so we'll just have to wait it out. I hope the NYPD makes a good decision and keeps everyone safe . This storm is looking intense... 40-45 mph winds? That's crazy [check out forecast on AccuWeather](https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/new-york-city/45641/weather-forecast/45641)

OMG u guys ! I'm soooo nervous about the Thanksgiving parade in NYC this year ... like what if the balloons get blown away by those crazy strong gusts of wind?! 35 mph is CRAZY!!! I'm literally counting down the hours till Sat when it's supposed to calm down tho can't wait for sunshine and mild temps again Bring on the hot cocoa tho!

Ugh, I'm so over this Thanksgiving parade thing... like back in my day, we didn't need all these fancy balloons and floats to have a good time . Just give me a cozy dinner with family and friends, that's what I'm thankful for . And can you believe the weather forecast? 40-45 mph gusts? Are they kidding me? It's cold enough as it is, no need to freeze our butts off in Central Park . Macy's should just be like "sorry, folks" and skip the parade altogether... but I guess that's not how business works . Still, at least the warmer weather on Saturday will make up for it, right?

Umm yeah so it's gonna be one of those days in NYC on Thanksgiving... I mean, I get it, can't cancel the parade or anything, but 40 mph gusts? That's like, crazy windy ! And it's not just the parade that's affected, all the spectators are gonna have to bundle up like it's winter or something . Even though it's above freezing, who wants to be out in that cold wind chill? And poor Cat in the Hat balloon from 1997... still can't believe that happened . Guess they'll just have to wait for warmer weather on Sat tho... fingers crossed!

OMG, can't believe they're gonna cancel the parade again ! Like, I get it, safety first and all that, but it's Thanksgiving Day, fam! We were so hyped to see those iconic balloons and floats in action . And now we're stuck with a bunch of cold, windy days ? Not cool. On the bright side, at least the weather will be nice on Sunday, right? Should've been clear skies by then... fingers crossed !

Ugh, big balloon mishap is my worst nightmare ! I don't know how they can make decisions with all those factors in play - wind speed, temperature, gusts... it's like a math problem ! I'm not sure who to blame if the balloons do get blown away. It's not just about Macy's and the parade, but also the people watching it... what if someone gets hurt?

And don't even get me started on the wind chill factor... mid-30s? That's crazy! I hope everyone is bundled up and ready for whatever the weather throws at them . At least the warmer weather is coming back by Saturday, that's a silver lining .

Ugh, this reminds me of the budget battles back in 2013... NYC always wants to splurge on parades and events, but when it comes down to it, they gotta prioritize. I mean, are they gonna risk a few minor injuries for the sake of entertainment? It's like that old debate about deficit spending - do you spend a little now to make sure everyone's happy later or do you cut back on some extravagance to balance the books?

And what about those Macy's officials? They're so worried about the wind, but what about the impact on our economy if they cancel the parade? That's like what happens when politicians don't see eye-to-eye - there are always winners and losers. I'd say let them make that final decision, it's their show to run...

I'm not sure about this one... a severe windstorm might be a bummer for people gathering in Central Park West to watch the Macy's parade . Like, yeah the weather forecast is pretty clear - it's gonna be windy and cold. The National Weather Service has warned of sustained winds of 15 to 20 mph and gusts up to 35 mph, which sounds pretty intense.

I'm also a bit concerned about the safety of spectators, especially with the wind chill factor dropping to mid-30s . And it's not like this is an isolated incident - I remember what happened in 1997 when those high winds caused that balloon crash... so yeah, let's hope everything goes smoothly.

Still, on the other hand, it could be interesting to see how the parade organizers and NYPD are gonna deal with all this wind . Maybe they'll come up with some new ideas for keeping those balloons safe? And if people can still have fun in the snow... well that's the spirit, right?

Umm I dont think i'll be able to watch the parade if its too windy lol I was thinking of going out on friday tho but 40 mph is like crazy what kinda food do people usually eat at thanksgiving anyway? like turkey and stuff? can you eat that while it's windy outside?

OMG, this Thanksgiving parade thingy is gonna be soooo messy with those crazy wind gusts ! I mean, 40 to 45 mph? That's like, whoa! And the Macy's crew better be super careful 'cause they don't wanna have any more balloon-related drama . Mid-30s wind chill factor? Brrr... can't even imagine standing outside in that for a few hours . On the bright side, warmer weather on Sat and Sun is like, yay! Can't wait to see the parade with all the iconic balloons, just hope they're secure enough to withstand those gusts .

ugh what a bummer this severe windstorm is gonna ruin the Macy's Thanksgiving parade vibe so badly! imagine floating along Central Park West and Sixth Avenue with gusty winds threatening to pop those iconic balloons like they're fragile glass ornaments meanwhile, people are already scrambling for scarves and gloves in the freezing temps - talk about being a turkey on Thanksgiving at least it'll be warmer by Saturday... maybe that's a silver lining?

Ugh, I'm still not buying this whole wind turbine thing... like, are we really gonna cancel the parade just because of some gusty weather? I mean, come on, it's Thanksgiving, it's supposed to be a chill day with family and friends . The parade is all about the fun, not about being a spectator sport. And what's with the whole "wind chill factor" thing? It's like we're expecting people to freeze their buns off just because of some wind . Can't they just roll with it and make some adjustments on the fly? This overhyping is giving me whiplash .

Ugh, a severe windstorm on Thanksgiving? That sounds like a total bummer . I remember when I was a kid, my grandma used to take me to watch the Macy's parade every year and we'd make it a special day. Now, with all these crazy weather conditions, I'm not sure if it'll be safe for everyone to gather in Central Park West. At least they're keeping an eye on things and will make a final decision about flying the balloons. Fingers crossed!

omg, can you imagine a windy Thanksgiving in NYC? I'm literally so stoked! it'll be like a real-life winter wonderland (without all the hassle of shoveling snow lol). and think about how cool it'll look when those giant balloons are swaying in the breeze. plus, who needs sunshine on a holiday when you can have a good excuse to wear your coziest sweaters? let's just hope everyone stays safe and has a blast (literally)

ugh this is gonna be a total mess... who thought it was a good idea to have a parade in the middle of a severe windstorm? I get it, Thanksgiving is about celebrating and all that, but come on! The last thing i wanna see is some giant balloons floating around like they're in a cartoon but no, people are gonna be outside in the cold with 35mph gusts. and what's up with macy's? can't they just cancel it or postpone it or something? this is like, a recipe for disaster... and the city is all like "oh, we'll make a final decision on thursday"... yeah, good luck with that

Ugh, I'm so worried about the Macy's parade this year . Those balloons are a big deal to me and my kids love it! We've been looking forward to it for weeks . I hope they can still make it happen despite the crazy windstorm . 15-20mph winds and gusts up to 35mph? That's not exactly "windy" , but I guess when you're dealing with giant balloons it can be a whole different story . Fingers crossed for the parade crew and everyone watching from home .

omg, gotta feel bad for the balloon handlers ... high winds are crazy! but u know who's got it worse? The poor cat from that incident back in 97 ... like, a serious injury just because of strong winds? that's wild . and now macy's gotta deal with this again... they must be super stressed . but at least the weather is expected to calm down on sat, so we can all enjoy the parade without any issues . btw, ppl who dont like the parade just need to chill