The weather for Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade could be the same as last year

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is one of the most popular parades in the United States with millions of people watching from the busy streets of New York City or from the comfort of their homes. November weather can sometimes have a major impact on the parade, including choreographed displays and giant helium-filled balloons, but attendees and participants alike can breathe a sigh of relief this year.

A massive storm is expected to inundate the New York City area before Thanksgiving, potentially causing headaches for holiday travelers across the region, but there is a brighter outlook ahead for the holiday itself.

From the experts: Weather during the show will be a “7 out of 10” with sunny to partly cloudy conditions, AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dave Dombeck said. “A pair of sunglasses may be needed depending on which side of the street you are on.”

The weather for the 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will be an almost exact replica of last year’s conditions when temperatures were in the 40s F at the start of the parade and rose to the low 50s F by the afternoon. However, it may feel a little colder for this year’s event, with AccuWeather RealFeel® temperatures starting in the mid-30s in the morning and rising to the mid-40s by the start of the show.

Windy conditions can wreak havoc on the annual display, especially balloons, which cannot be flown safely when sustained wind speeds exceed 23 mph or when there are frequent wind gusts exceeding 34 mph.

Wind forecast for this year: There may be a little breeze in New York City Thursday morning, but Dombeck said winds should remain below safety standards.

Flashback to 2019: High winds nearly kept the famous balloons on the ground four years ago, but a last-minute decision by the New York City Police Department allowed them to take flight.

Thursday could be the warmest day of the extended Thanksgiving weekend, with high temperatures expected to reach the 40s to near 50 degrees on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Dombeck added that the system could approach later on the weekend, disrupting holiday shopping, outdoor activities and travel for those who plan to drive or return home in the days following Thanksgiving.

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