The National Weather Service predicts that winds on Thursday could be that fierce. City officials and parade organizers will make a decision tomorrow morning.

Character balloons have been a feature of the parade since 1927 . The only time it went without balloons was in 1971, because of weather conditions.

Big balloons

Smokey Bear is 51 feet high. Greg Heffley , from the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” book series, is 62 feet in length. These and other balloons can require as many as 90 handlers each.

The parade also has several floats, marching bands from around the country and an array of clowns. My favorite: the city tourist clowns.

The parade route

You can see the route on the Macy’s website.

The parade starts at West 77th Street and Central Park West at 9 a.m. It proceeds south to Columbus Circle.

Views can be limited , but are good along Central Park West if you arrive early. People have been known to arrive as early as 6 a.m.

The parade turns at Columbus Circle and goes east along West 59th Street for two blocks . Parade organizers note that there is “no public viewing” here. If you know someone with an apartment along this two-block stretch, you’re in luck.