Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons may be grounded due to winds

Astronaut Snoopy, Olaf and the rest of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons may not fly high during this week's spectacular.

They may not fly at all, multiple media outlets are reporting.

The 16 massive character balloons may have to stay grounded because of expected windy conditions in New York City, CNN reported.

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The balloons cannot be flown when sustained winds are more than 23 mph and gusts are higher than 34 mph according to laws in the city.

The rules were set after an incident with the Cat in the Hat balloon, CNN reported. The balloon was blown around by the wind and crashed into a street light, injuring four people in 1997, The Associated Press reported then.

As of Sunday, the National Weather Service has predicted sustained winds of 22 mph and gusts of 39 mph, CNN reported.

Parade officials will make the decision Thursday morning if the balloons will either make an appearance or be scrapped from the parade.

The New York Times reported that the last time the balloons were not allowed to appear in the parade was in 1971.

Earlier this month, the parade's balloons were inflated for a test run held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, WNBC reported.

They will be inflated near the Museum of Natural History on 77th and 81st streets Wednesday afternoon through evening, Playbill reported.

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