Thunderstorms will clear wildfire smoke from Northeast ahead of World Cup final, meteorologists say

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Smoke from the Canadian wildfires that has engulfed the Northeast in haze is expected to mostly clear from the New Jersey area just in time for the World Cup final on Sunday, thanks to thunderstorms passing through the area, meteorologists say.

Warnings of unhealthy air quality remained in effect Saturday across a wide swath of the United States. 

At MetLife Stadium, where the final is taking place, it rained heavily and thunder boomed. 

State police urged people to leave the stadium seating bowl and field and take shelter. 

Volunteers and staff dashed inside for cover as ponchos were handed out. 

The sky was the same thick, soupy gray it had been for days.

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill warned residents Saturday about the potential for damaging winds, tornadoes, flash flooding and large hail. 

Spain’s training session ahead of the final against Argentina was suspended at a nearby field because of the storms and lightning in the area. 

And FIFA said it was in close contact with local authorities as it continues to monitor the impacts from the wildfire smoke and the storms on the conditions on the field at MetLife Stadium.

This storm front will largely move the smoke out of the Northeast before the final between Spain and Argentina, said Tyler Roys, a senior meteorologist at AccuWeather. MetLife Stadium, which has been renamed the New York/New Jersey Stadium for the matches, is an open-air stadium.

“There could be some lingering smoke that would make things hazy, but very faint,” Roys said. 

“In terms of the thickest smoke, the smoke that has really been eye-popping and leads to poor air quality, that is not expected across New York City or much of the Northeast.”

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