NEW YORK (AP) – Bundle up, SpongeBob.
New York City’s big Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will take place in frigid cold and strong winds that could potentially ground the giant character balloons, which have blown off course in past parades and caused injuries.
The police department will be monitoring wind gauges along the parade route. They can order the 16 helium-filled balloons to a lower altitude or removed entirely if wind speeds reach dangerous levels.
So far, the forecast calls for temperatures in the low 20s and sustained winds just inside the safe zone for balloons to fly.
In addition to monitoring the skies, thousands of police officers will be providing security for throngs of spectators.
Their ranks include a new canine squad that can sniff out explosives from a few hundred feet away.
