Soaking rain expected for Macys Thanksgiving Day parade in NYC but balloons should fly just fine

The turkey won’t be dry this year!The Big Apple is set for a real basting Thursday — with a steady downpour expected when the balloons take flight for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.“We’re probably going to have a steady rain throughout much of the parade,” Fox Forecast Center Meteorologist Greg Diamond told The Post on Monday.“The good news is, if there’s any good news, the winds shouldn’t be strong enough to impact the balloons.” While it will likely be a wet one, beloved mainstay balloons like Snoopy and Pikachu — and newcomers like Minnie Mouse, Gabby from “Gabby’s Dollhouse” and Spider-Man — should be just fine to fly given the current forecast.

“The balloons can’t fly if there are sustained winds at about 23 miles an hour,” Diamond explained.“Right now we’re forecasting staying winds will be around 10 to 15 miles an hour, so a little bit of a breeze, but not enough to take down the balloon so they will still be fly-based.”A Macy’s spokesperson confirmed to The Post that the parade would take place rain or shine.

“Based on the city’s guidelines, no giant character balloon will be operated when there are sustained wind conditions exceeding 23 mph and wind gusts exceeding 34 mph on the parade route,” the spokesperson added.Even though it may be a little breezy, it won’t be too cold, with temperatures staying in the mid to upper 40s, Diamond said.“It’s looking like it will be kind of a raw day, but nothing too crazy, temperature-wise,” he said.

As far as holiday travels go, the rest of the week — excluding Thursday — will likely be clear for planes, trains and automobiles to make it to and from Thanksgiving festivities in the tri-state area.“The day before flying into New York City should be fine, but on Thanksgiving, that rain and low clouds could cause some delays at New York area airports.

On Friday and Saturday, there might be some minor delays due to wind, but the weather looks good.” ...