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

By — Jennifer McDermott, Associated Press Jennifer McDermott, Associated Press By — Philip Marcelo, Associated Press Philip Marcelo, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/thunderstorms-will-clear-wildfire-smoke-from-northeast-ahead-of-world-cup-final-meteorologists-say Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Thunderstorms will clear wildfire smoke from Northeast ahead of World Cup final, meteorologists say Nation Jul 18, 2026 4:02 PM EDT 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 has been for days. READ MORE: Wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota pushes farther into the U.S. and engulfs D.C. in haze New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill warned residents Saturday about the potential for damaging winds, tornadoes, flash flooding and large hail, and flooding caused scattered street closures in New York. Spain's training session ahead of the final against Argentina was suspended at a field near the stadium because of the storms and lighting 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 field at MetLife Stadium. Storms will help clear the air 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. General view as smoke from the wildfires is seen surrounding the New York/New Jersey Stadium ahead of the World Cup final in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 18, 2026. Photo by Brian Snyder/Reuters "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." Meteorologist says the air quality for the game 'won't be dangerous' WFLA-TV Chief Meteorologist and Climate Specialist Jeff Berardelli, in Tampa, Florida, echoed that, saying the storm front would "sweep the atmosphere clean," leaving only a thin smoke that World Cup spectators may still smell in the air. The air quality index shows an improvem