The 2013 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will be kicking in just a few hours from the streets of Manhattan at 9am ET today. There were some initial concerns that some floats and balloons may be cancelled due to strong winds, but the situation seems to have improved.
Heavy storms across the East Coast have caused a traffic nightmare for those traveling home for the Thanksgiving holidays. Winter Storm Boreas threatens to ground some of the giant iconic balloons such as Snoopy and SpongeBob SquarePants.
"On Thursday morning, conditions in New York City will include high winds and freezing temperatures that threaten to derail the balloons from taking to the skies for the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parad," reports the Weather Channel.
Although the rain clouds have shifted and the day will be sunny, strong winds of up to 22mph are expected. Meteorologist Alan Raymond said, "New York City could see sustained winds between 15 and 25 mph, with gusts up to 35 mph."
According to CBS2 New York, giant balloons cannot take flight if winds sustained winds exceed 23mph, or gusts 34mph.
The parade will go on, but Macy's officials will decide early Monday morning whether some of the big balloons will take flight. "At this time, it is too early to make any determinations on the flight of the giant balloons," a Macy's spokesperson told Metro New York.
The world-famous annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will start at 77<sup>th Street and Central Park West. Spectators are advised to wrap up warm as they line up on the streets of Manhattan.
The parade will air on NBC from 9am to 12pm ET. Click here to watch the parade online via livestream.
See a route map of the 2.5 mile parade below:
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