Wildfire smoke is creating unhealthy to hazardous air quality from the Great Lakes to the Northeast, expect cleaner air to gradually return as winds shift by this weekend.
Storms will bring downpours and localized flooding, but they could also help clear wildfire smoke and be the “golden ball” for Sunday’s final.
A time-lapse video shows Canadian wildfire smoke sweep in and blanket Lower Manhattan.
Smoke and storms on Saturday?
Multiple rounds of severe thunderstorms are possible from the lower Great Lakes into the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast on Saturday afternoon and evening. Damaging winds are the main threat, but some storms could produce hail, isolated tornadoes and torrential rain.
Wildfire smoke may still cause hazy skies and unhealthy air, especially early Saturday. The smoke is expected to thin from west to east, allowing more sunshine to heat the region and potentially strengthen the storms.
Rain, shifting winds and the cold front should eventually help clear the smoke, though air quality may not improve everywhere immediately.
Firm warnings and free N95 masks
Cities from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic are warning people to stay safe and handing out masks as the dangerous smoke descends.
“Chicago is currently experiencing its worst air quality in recorded history,” the mayor’s office said in a social media post Thursday evening. “Please stay indoors, and if you must go outdoors, use a well-fitted N95 or KN95 mask for your safety.”
The Detroit Health Department is giving away free masks on Friday and encouraging everyone to stay inside.
In Philadelphia, “everyone is likely to experience health effects from being exposed” to smoke in the air Friday, officials warned in a media release.
Millions affected by pollution
More than 100 million people in 18 states and the District of Columbia are under air quality alerts, with Milwaukee, Chicago and Detroit seeing some of the most dangerous pollution.
“Very unhealthy” and “hazardous” air quality stretches from northeast Minnesota to southeast Virginia.
Relief is coming for the Northeast
Poor air quality will be an issue through Saturday as the wind pushes the smoke back into the Northeast. But rain and storms are in the forecast, which will help wash the smoke out of the air and provide some relief.
Will smoke smother the World Cup final?
No one cheers for a rainy weekend, but in this case it looks like it might save the day.
A storm system will bring rain to the Northeast on Saturday afternoon and evening, which will help to wash out the smoke from the skies and temporarily shift the winds so they are not blowing from the fire zone.
The storms in New York City Saturday afternoon and evening could produce some heavy downpours and a risk for brief flash flooding in urban areas, but should clear the area by Sunday morning.
Bottom line: Air quality won’t be perfect, but it should be much better than the past couple of days.
