Giant balloons are getting into shape for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Crews inflated the giant characters Wednesday on the streets of New York City. The parade kicks off Thursday morning. Dozens of huge balloons are set to take to the skies, and floats, entertainers, marching bands and more will grace the streets. More than 100 balloon technicians and volunteers worked Wednesday to puff up dozens of characters. Officials are watching the weather, since the forecast as of Wednesday evening calls for a somewhat gusty day. Under New York City law, the balloons are grounded if sustained winds exceed 23 mph (37 kph) or wind gusts are over 35 mph (56 kph).

Cold air is sweeping across the Great Lakes region, bringing lake-effect snow from Michigan's Upper Peninsula to Western New York. Snowfall started Wednesday in Houghton, Michigan, and is expected to continue through Thanksgiving. The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard warning for the Keweenaw Peninsula. Forecasters say that cold air, often from Canada, blows over the Great Lakes, creating conditions for heavy snowfall. Areas like Buffalo, New York, are particularly affected, with significant snow expected. Lake-effect storms previously dumped over six feet of snow in Western New York in November 2022.