It may be raining on their parade, but crowds gathered for the 100th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade refused to let it dampen their spirits.
Heavy rain and chilly conditions are expected to hold steady Thursday morning in the Big Apple — though the poor weather outlook hasn’t seemed to stop millions of parade-goers from donning ponchos, umbrellas and even Turkey hats and taking to New York City streets.
The Spirit of New York dance group had high spirits despite the rain and chill, with members in clear ponchos over their uniforms taking the train uptown ahead of the event, which kicks off at 8:30 a.m. on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.
Performers, floats and new balloons like Spider-Man and Minnie Mouse will weave 2.5 miles downtown to Macy’s Herald Square flagship store on 34th Street.
This year’s parade will feature 17 giant helium-filled character balloons, 22 floats, 15 novelty and heritage inflatables, 11 marching bands, 700 clowns and performances by award-winning entertainers.
New floats this year include a knight and dragon in battle made from actual pasta elements, courtesy of the Rao’s food brand, as well as a float celebrating the Bronx Zoo’s 125th anniversary.
“What you see right now is what you’re going to get. Chilly, cold rain,” Fox Forecast Center Meteorologist Jordan Overton told The Post Thursday morning. “Definitely make sure you have a rain jacket for the rest of the day and through the afternoon.”
Consistent rain and dark heavy clouds will likely loom over the five boroughs for most of the day.
“It will wane in intensity, maybe you’ll have 15-20 minutes of some really heavy rain and then maybe it’s 15-20 minutes of light rain. It’s going to be this persistent, messy feel for most of today,” Overton said.
Snoopy, Pikachu and Bluey may get drenched, but the iconic balloon characters should not float away, as winds are expected to remain calm throughout Thursday.
While the parade goes on each year rain or shine, Macy’s beloved oversized balloons cannot fly in sustained winds over 23 mph.
“It will probably pick up to 10, 15, or maybe even 20mph into the afternoon, but it’s not going to be a huge factor in terms of the parade, at least not right now,” Overton said.
Respite will likely only come after Turkey Day, with the rain expected to lighten up well into Thursday afternoon or the evening.
Black Friday shoppers can also rest easy tonight: Clearer conditions are expected to come to New York after the holiday wraps.
While the rain is expected to stop for Friday, shoppers should still bundle up, as temperatures will likely dip into the low 30s overnight.
