The decision was greeted with relief by the families who lined the streets and endured the bristling cold to take in the spectacle. But the challenges of maneuvering the giant balloons in the high winds were apparent even before the parade began.
While floating in place on 77th Street, the Sonic the Hedgehog balloon was at times wildly flailing in place, crashing into a tree and sending branches and twigs tumbling down. Shortly afterward, a parade official ordered handlers to dramatically lower the balloons.
The decision had been up in the air because of concerns that the winds would exceed the city’s limit for flying balloons, sustained winds of 23 miles per hour and gusts exceeding 34 m.p.h. Those limits were put in place after a Cat in the Hat balloon hit a lamppost at 72nd Street and Central Park West in 1997, knocking down part of the pole and injuring four spectators.
Yahoo Local News – New York Times
http://newyork.greatlocalnews.info/?p=18060
via Great Local News: New York http://newyork.greatlocalnews.info
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