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Smoke, dirty rain, flash floods, high winds: Weekend NYC forecast looks grim
Gothamist • • nation
Key Points:
- New York City experienced a brief improvement in air quality Friday morning, but Canadian wildfire smoke is expected to return by Friday afternoon and evening, creating unhealthy conditions especially for sensitive groups like the young and elderly.
- The National Weather Service warns of heavy rain and strong wind gusts on Saturday, which could cause localized flooding and hazardous conditions, with up to 1.5 inches of rain possible in some areas.
- The rain on Saturday may help clear the smoke but could leave soot deposits on cars and roadways, while Sunday is expected to bring better air quality, sunshine, and milder temperatures ahead of the World Cup final in North Jersey.
- New York City’s Air Quality Index was around 160 on Friday morning, ranking it as having the fourth worst air quality globally, behind Detroit, Chicago, and Washington D.C.
- Forecasters say the return of wildfire smoke next week depends on firefighting efforts in Ontario, where the wildfires are currently active.
