The big rain storm will be long gone by Thanksgiving morning, but gusty winds could still be blowing when the 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade kicks off in New York City, weather forecasters say.

Breezy conditions are also expected in Philadelphia, where the city’s 6abc Dunkin Thanksgiving Day Parade is on tap for Thursday morning.

Although both New York City and Philadelphia will have dry conditions and mostly sunny skies on Thanksgiving Day, with temperatures rising into the low 50s — right around average for late November — steady winds of 15 to 17 mph are expected to be blowing in Manhattan and winds of 10 to 15 mph are forecast for Philly, according to the National Weather Service.

AccuWeather is predicting slightly stronger wind gusts Thursday morning — up to 25 mph in New York and up to 23 mph in Philadelphia.

New York has strict safety rules dictating how high the iconic parade balloons can fly, depending on how strong the winds are. Under city regulations, steady winds cannot exceed 23 mph, and gusts can’t go above 34 mph for the balloons to safely fly in the Thanksgiving Day parade.

The rules were implemented after powerful winds during the parade in November 1997 caused a Cat in the Hat balloon to knock down a light pole, injuring four people, including one who ended up in a coma. Macy’s big balloons have been grounded only once in the parade’s 97-year history. That was in 1971, when nasty weather kept the inflatables from flying.

Parade balloons, floats and music

Twenty-five big balloons, 31 floats and more than a dozen musical entertainers are in the lineup for this year’s Macy’s parade, which kicks off at 8:30 a.m. Thursday and runs through noon. The 2.5-mile parade route stretches from the Upper West Side of Manhattan to Midtown.

The annual Philly parade, which holds the distinction of being the first Thanksgiving Day parade in the nation, kicks off at 9 a.m. Thursday on the Ben Franklin Parkway with numerous balloons, floats, marching bands and entertainers.

Note to spectators: If you plan to arrive to the parade routes early Thursday, make sure you bundle up. Weather forecasters say morning lows will be hovering in the mid-40s in New York and Philly, with the wind making it feel as cold as 39 to 41 degrees.

Current weather radar

Thank you for relying on us to provide the local weather news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.

Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com or @LensReality.