World Cup Fans Get Good News About Air Quality
It looks like World Cup fans can finally relax a bit.
As the final match between Argentina and Spain approaches on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, smoke from Canada’s extensive wildfires should diminish enough to have minimal impact, according to meteorologists. They anticipate only light fog, which shouldn’t disrupt the championship game.
“The smoke will start to clear up today, peaking during the morning and early afternoon before fading later on,” said meteorologist Stephen MacLeod from Fox Weather.
He noted that while hazy skies could linger tomorrow, smoke levels are expected to remain low. “The air quality won’t be great, but it’ll be no worse than a typical hazy summer day in New York, so the World Cup should be fine,” he added.
Temperatures on Sunday are looking pleasant, starting in the low 70s and hitting the low 80s by the afternoon.
“I can’t guarantee air quality will be perfect, but it should be a lot better than recent days,” said John Feerick, a senior meteorologist at AccuWeather.com. “I think it’ll be a really nice day overall with low humidity and plenty of sunshine.”
On the other hand, Saturday saw severe storms in New York City, leading to flash floods, strong winds, and even a reported tornado. Forecasts indicated a risk of tornadoes statewide.
Rain and storms were expected to hit the area throughout Saturday. Governor Cathy Hochul mentioned that while rain is generally a relief for poor air quality, it could also bring about severe weather, advising residents to “take the weather seriously.”
Despite improvements in air quality across some regions by Friday afternoon, the effects of smoke from the wildfires lingered into Saturday.
Meteorologists have spotted a bright side, claiming that the rain could help clear away some of the smoke and haze. “These storms will wash away a lot of the smoke,” Feerick explained. “By tomorrow, we’re looking at much better air quality.”
An Air Quality Health Advisory remains in effect for Western New York, Central New York, Eastern Lake Ontario, the New York City Metro, and Long Island until 11:59 p.m. Saturday.
