Balloons are being inflated in New York for the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

But will they even fly?

Windy conditions are expected on Thursday, and city regulations say that the balloons cannot be flown when sustained winds exceed 23 mph and gusts exceed 34 mph.

It's a safety issue. In 1997, the Cat in the Hat balloon injured four people after intense winds forced it astray.

Police officers stand guard as people watch the balloons get inflated on Wednesday.
Police officers stand guard as people watch the balloons get inflated on Wednesday.
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Yayoi Kusama's "Love Flies Up to the Sky" balloon is seen on Wednesday.
Yayoi Kusama's "Love Flies Up to the Sky" balloon is seen on Wednesday.
Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images
Workers inflate the Pillsbury Doughboy balloon.
Workers inflate the Pillsbury Doughboy balloon.
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Crowds watch as the balloons are inflated.
Crowds watch as the balloons are inflated.
Mark Lennihan/AP
The Trolls balloon is kept under a net during the inflation process.
The Trolls balloon is kept under a net during the inflation process.
Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade has been a holiday tradition for nearly a century.
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade has been a holiday tradition for nearly a century.
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Children watch parade volunteers work on balloons Wednesday.
Children watch parade volunteers work on balloons Wednesday.
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Parade volunteers work on the Trolls balloon.
Parade volunteers work on the Trolls balloon.
Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images
Workers carry a helium hose as the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" balloon is inflated.
Workers carry a helium hose as the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" balloon is inflated.
Mark Lennihan/AP
Olaf, a character from Disney's "Frozen," is readied for the parade.
Olaf, a character from Disney's "Frozen," is readied for the parade.
Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images
The Grinch balloon is secured.
The Grinch balloon is secured.
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A man works near the Ronald McDonald balloon.
A man works near the Ronald McDonald balloon.
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Parade volunteers work on the Trolls balloon.
Parade volunteers work on the Trolls balloon.
Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images
Pikachu's balloon is ready to fly.
Pikachu's balloon is ready to fly.
Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images
A "SpongeBob SquarePants" balloon is kept under a net after being inflated.
A "SpongeBob SquarePants" balloon is kept under a net after being inflated.
Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images
Parade volunteers work on a Wiggle Worm balloon.
Parade volunteers work on a Wiggle Worm balloon.
Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images
Astronaut Snoopy might not get liftoff if the winds are too strong on Thursday.
Astronaut Snoopy might not get liftoff if the winds are too strong on Thursday.
Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images
Dinosaur balloons are prepared for the parade.
Dinosaur balloons are prepared for the parade.
Jason Szenes/EPA