From The New York Times: Extreme winds and possible storms expected on Tuesday have forced the cancellation of Mardi Gras parades in Jefferson Parish, La., as officials in neighboring New Orleans moved up parade starting times because of the forecast.
The National Weather Service is warning that strong winds, with gusts reaching up to 60 miles per hour, will begin early in the morning, creating potentially hazardous conditions for parade floats and spectators. “I’m going to cut to the chase with very disappointing news,” the Jefferson Parish president, Cynthia Lee Sheng, said at a news conference on Monday. “Tomorrow’s weather, especially the gusty winds, is severe enough that we have no other choice other than to cancel our scheduled parades for tomorrow.”