Mardi Gras gives people the opportunity to celebrate before the Lenten season, where many give up habits for 40 days. Here's a closer look.

The storied Zulu Social Aide & Pleasure Club's parade will roll on a shortened route starting at 7 a.m. — an hour earlier than normal — without marchers, bands or truck floats, according Darren Mire, Zulu's director of public relations. Rex is also set to roll early at 9:30 a.m.

With Mardi Gras celebrations under way, the city of New Orleans is ramping up security measures in response to the heightened threat level following the New Year's Day attack on Bourbon Street. Law enforcement agencies at the local,

Jefferson Parish canceled its parades, and officials in New Orleans were warily watching the Tuesday forecast.

Jefferson Parish officials are canceling Mardi Gras Day parades because they are worried strong winds could flip floats, send tents flying and create other unsafe conditions. Why it matters: It's the first time the holiday's parades have been canceled in recent memory,

The severe weather has already led Jefferson Parish to cancel its two Mardi Gras day parades. There was no word yet from New Orleans officials on whether parades would be rescheduled there, which would require the massive security coordination put in place in the wake of the Jan.

New Orleans officials are weighing weather-related Mardi Gras decisions as anticipated heavy winds from incoming storms are expected to reach the area by Monday (March 3) evening. The upcoming decision comes after Jefferson Parish officials canceled all of their Mardi Gras day parades earlier Monday morning.