Seattle's Space Needle NYE fireworks cancelled just minutes before midnight
Vancouverites who made a road trip to Seattle to ring in the new decade with fireworks could not escape disappointment.
Approximately 10 minutes before midnight, organizers of the New Year’s Eve fireworks at the Space Needle announced they were forced to cancel the tradition of launching fireworks off the tower due to high winds that made it dangerous to proceed with the show.
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The heavy rainfall and high winds began to subside late into the evening, but the winds did not fall below the threshold of 25 miles per hour (40 km per hour) and gusts of 30 miles per hour (48 km per hour) before the final deadline on the decision on whether to proceed.
Instead, a musically-choreographed light show replaced the fireworks spectacular.
Pyrotechnicians made another attempt to launch the fireworks at 2 am, but the winds still had not lowered to safe levels.
Seattle new years looks like the 1920’s depression than a celebration #NYESeattle #spaceneedle #nofireworks @space_needle @KING5Seattle @KIRO7Seattle pic.twitter.com/0rDmoB3Uob
— miriam (@kool322) January 1, 2020
Everyone in at the Space Needle: The wind canceled the fireworks
Me from the comfort of my bed: pic.twitter.com/jPo2ExXB63
— DJ A Adams (@DJ_AAdams) January 1, 2020
2019 me at 11:59pm – “I’m going to try and think positive going into the new year!”
2020 me at 12:01am – (Spaceneedle fireworks are replaced with a light show) “It’s a sign. I give up. I quit. I don’t care. In fact, do not disturb my dreaming for the next decade.”
— Gary McGrew (@GarysScaries) January 1, 2020
The space needle “light show” they’re doing instead of the fireworks is the funniest fucking thing I’ve ever seen in my life
— aaron “the in remission guy” campeau (@AaronCampeau) January 1, 2020
This fireworks show is unbelievable! No really. Where are the fireworks? #seattle #spaceneedle #NYE2020
— Brittany Hunt (@brittanycre8ive) January 1, 2020
A very disappointing moment first time in seattle and agreed to spend it in space needle area to see the fireworks. The whole family left after 12 without even celebrating or having a happy face
— imneizel (@imneizel) January 1, 2020
Meanwhile in Metro Vancouver on Tuesday afternoon, the same weather system that brought continued heavy rainfall and high winds forced the operators of Cypress, Grouse, and Seymour mountains to cancel their early family-friendly fireworks shows between 8 pm and 9 pm. No midnight fireworks were planned.
The usual fireworks at Coal Harbour in downtown Vancouver did not go ahead either, as organizers of Concord’s New Year’s Eve Vancouver have taken a one-year hiatus in preparation of a relocation of the event to East False Creek — between Science World and Cambie Bridge — starting on December 31, 2020.
The 8 pm and midnight fireworks at Whistler Village’s Skiers Plaza went ahead as scheduled.
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