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

As New Yorkers prepare for a festive Thanksgiving celebration, Mother Nature is threatening to blow a big hole in the parade. A powerful windstorm is expected to sweep through the city on Thursday, bringing gusts as high as 35 miles per hour and sending popular culture icons like Buzz Lightyear and Derpy Tiger on a wild ride.

Meteorologist Bryan Ramsey warns that spectators lining Central Park West and Sixth Avenue will be bracing for a chilly day, with wind chill temperatures expected to dip into the mid-30s - even though the highs won't drop below freezing. "It's not going to feel warm, even if the temperature is above freezing," he cautioned.

The blustery weather will kick in on Wednesday night, when temperatures plummet from 60 degrees to the upper 30s. By Thursday morning, winds will have increased and air will be getting colder, making for a hazardous day ahead.

Macy's parade officials are keeping a close eye on the forecast, along with NYPD, and will make a final decision about whether the balloons will fly and at what heights just before the parade begins. The last time high winds caused chaos in 1997 resulted in a Cat in the Hat balloon crashing into a lamppost and leaving a bystander seriously injured.

On Friday, the gusts are expected to reach as high as 40-45 mph during the day, with wind chills making it feel more like the 20s. But by Saturday, the winds will have died down slightly, allowing for some warmth to return - albeit briefly. By Sunday, temperatures will be back in the 50s, providing a welcome respite from the chilly start to the week.

omg, i know it's gonna be super windy on thursday but i think it's actually kinda cool that the balloons are gonna get a wild ride like buzz lightyear and derpy tiger ! and i feel bad for whoever gets seriously injured last time (hopefully no one gets hurt this year) but at least the parade organizers are being super careful about it. and hey, it's not all bad that the temps are gonna drop on wednesday night - maybe everyone will just have a cozy excuse to stay inside with a warm cup of tea ?

Ugh, that's so crazy! I mean, I'm all about being prepared for anything, but this windstorm sounds intense . I hope they're taking extra precautions with the parade balloons, it'd be a total bummer if something happened to them or anyone watching. And 40-45mph winds on Friday? That's just rough . But at least it'll die down by Saturday and we can get some warmth back, right? I guess you gotta take the good with the bad when it comes to weather...

omg can u believe this?! they're gonna have the parade on like 35mph winds!!! that's crazy!! i hope the balloons don't pop lol and btw why do ppl always freak out about weather forecasts? it's just wind, chill (no pun intended) and btw macy's should really consider using some kinda anchor thingy for those balloons or smthn

I'm not buying this whole 'it's not going to feel warm' thing. Like, what even is wind chill temp? It's just a fancy way of saying it's gonna be freezing. Can we get some actual data on how cold people are actually feeling vs the air temperature? This guy sounds like he's trying to spin us into thinking it's still pretty mild. Also, 35mph gusts in NYC? That's not even windstorm material, that's just a typical Tuesday afternoon

Ugh, parade party vibes are being totally ruined by Mother Nature this year . I mean, I love Buzz Lightyear and Derpy Tiger as much as the next person, but not when they're flying around like maniacs on a windy day . Can't they just postpone it until the weather's better?

And can you imagine the poor spectators trying to enjoy the parade with 35 mph gusts?! I'd be all bundled up and worried sick about those balloons taking flight . Hopefully, the officials know what they're doing and make a safe call on Thursday. Fingers crossed it doesn't turn into another crazy Cat in the Hat incident .

On a more positive note, yay for warmer weather by Sunday! A little warmth is just what we need after this chilly start to the week . Can't wait to see what else 2025 brings

I'm keeping an eye on this windstorm , gotta feel bad for those spectators trying to enjoy the parade. I mean, who wants to stand around in the cold when you could be dancing to Beyoncé's "Single Ladies"? It's like Mother Nature is playing a cruel joke on us. Wind chills are supposed to dip into the mid-30s? Brrr! Can't wait for some sunshine and warmth by Sunday, though . Hope everything stays safe and fun for everyone involved in the parade

"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."

I'm not surprised that a powerful windstorm is threatening to ruin the Thanksgiving parade in New York City. We've seen it time and time again, how Mother Nature can come out of nowhere and cause chaos. It's a reminder to always be prepared for the unexpected.

On the other hand, I do hope that everyone stays safe on Wednesday night as the blustery weather sets in. The wind chill temperatures are expected to drop to mid-30s, which is quite chilly. But it's not all doom and gloom - by Saturday, the winds will have died down slightly, allowing for some warmth to return.

It's ironic that the parade officials are keeping a close eye on the forecast, but at the same time, we can't predict with certainty what Mother Nature has in store for us. That's just the way it goes sometimes.

Ugh, I'm so bummed for the Thanksgiving parade this year . All that excitement and cultural significance is gonna get blown away by the windstorm . The last thing you want is those iconic balloons crashing into things or worse... I hope the organizers have a solid plan in place to keep everyone safe . 35 miles per hour winds? That's crazy! ‍ Can't wait for Sunday when it's back to normal temps, though .

Ugh, I get why they wanna keep the parade going but wind gusts of 40-45mph is crazy! I mean, can't they just postpone it? I know some people will be bummed if it gets cancelled but safety first, right? Also, what's with the balloons not being able to handle 35mph winds? Don't get me wrong, I love Buzz Lightyear and Derpy Tiger as much as the next person but I'm worried they'll fly away or worse...

Man, can't believe those Macy's parade balloons are gonna take a wild ride ! 35mph gusts? That's crazy! I feel bad for anyone trying to watch the parade in Central Park West and Sixth Avenue, gotta be super chilly even if it doesn't freeze. Guess that's what happens when Mother Nature decides to throw a curveball (or should I say, windmill ). Hope everything goes smoothly and those balloons don't end up like that Cat in the Hat balloon back in 97... that was some serious damage !

Umm... can't believe they're planning to still have the parade on Thursday. Wind gusts of 35 miles per hour? That's crazy! I mean, I know people want to celebrate Thanksgiving and all, but safety should be the top priority. If it gets that windy, it could be really hard for the spectators, let alone the balloons themselves. And yeah, 40-45 mph on Friday sounds terrifying... hope no one gets hurt

I don’t usually comment but I feel so bad for those balloons ! 35 miles per hour is crazy! And poor guy who got seriously injured by Cat in the Hat balloon back in 1997... . On one hand, it's Thanksgiving and people wanna celebrate, but safety first, you know? . I hope Macy’s parade officials make a good decision about flying those balloons. Wind chill temps are gonna be nasty for spectators . And the Cat in the Hat balloon might just have to take a raincheck this year... .