New York, 1997

Strong Wind in New York, November 27, 1997

November 27, 1997 · NWS OKX · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

Strong and gusty northwest winds developed early Thanksgiving morning (after 2 am). Northwest winds that averaged 25 to 35 mph with gusts around 50 mph caused balloon handlers to lose control of the Cat In The Hat Balloon in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
4
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
5

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS OKX wrote it up.

Strong and gusty northwest winds developed early Thanksgiving morning (after 2 am). They developed in response to a low pressure system that intensified rapidly as it moved east of the Maine Coast and a high pressure system building toward the area.Northwest winds that averaged 25 to 35 mph with gusts around 50 mph caused balloon handlers to lose control of the Cat In The Hat Balloon in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. The balloon collided with and caused the top of a lightpole to fall on 4 spectators, causing 1 serious and 3 less-serious injuries at 72nd Street and Central Park West.Strong gusty winds also caused scattered tree limbs to fall, downing power lines, and caused scattered power outages throughout the area.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

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Event by event

5 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Strong Wind, Northern Westchester

When
November 27, 3:00 AM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where
Northern Westchester forecast zone
Coordinates
41.152, -73.753 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Southern Westchester

When
November 27, 3:00 AM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where
Southern Westchester forecast zone
Coordinates
41.152, -73.753 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Putnam

When
November 27, 3:00 AM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where
Putnam forecast zone
Coordinates
41.427, -73.749 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Rockland

When
November 27, 3:00 AM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where
Rockland forecast zone
Coordinates
41.152, -74.024 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, New York (Manhattan)

When
November 27, 11:00 AM EST
Where
New York (Manhattan) forecast zone
Injuries
4 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates
40.774, -73.970 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Strong Wind
Non-thunderstorm winds below high wind criteria that nonetheless caused damage or casualties.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in New York in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in New York, November 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5623631, 5623632, 5623633, 5623634, 5623630.