Strong Winds May Keep Iconic Balloons Flying In Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

(CNN) — It’s a time-honored tradition for many to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, but this year it could be missing a key element: its 16 giant character balloons.
Officials in New York City may have to ground the iconic balloons due to windy conditions. They cannot be flown when sustained winds exceed 23 mph and gusts exceed 34 mph, per city regulations.
In 1997, the iconic Cat in the Hat balloon injured four people after being overtaken by strong winds. The followin