The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade went off without a hitch yesterday, though eagle-eyed viewers may have noticed the famous balloons weren’t quite as high as their spirits.

With wind gusts of 30–35 mph expected in NYC yesterday, organizers flew the balloons at a lower height as a safety precaution. If the winds had been more severe, the balloons could have been grounded entirely.

According to ABC7, city rules state that the giant balloons cannot fly if wind gusts exceed 35 mph or if sustained winds are over 23 mph.

Director of Production Operations Kathleen Wright recently spoke to AccuWeather about how they prepare for severe weather at the Macy’s Parade.

“The Macy’s parade marches rain or shine,” Wright insisted to AccuWeather. “We know that this year’s forecast has a little bit of

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