NEW YORK (WABC) -- It will be a one-two punch of bad weather on Saturday: Smoky skies followed by severe storms that have already prompted a Flash Flood Warning as downpours drench parts of the region.
After a welcome reprieve on Friday, smoke from Canadian wildfires returned to New York City and the Tri-State area on Saturday, once again creating unhealthy air quality.
Those smoky conditions are expected to gradually improve through the day as winds shift, but a new problem has emerged: Strong to severe thunderstorms, which, while helping to clear the smoke, will bring a round of hazardous weather to much of the region. The first powerful storm swept through parts of northern New Jersey and New York City, with a Flash Flood Warning in effect through 2 pm.
The storms could produce flooding downpours, damaging wind gusts and even a few isolated tornadoes, making for a stormy finish to the day.
Fine particle pollution from wildfire smoke can cause shortness of breath, coughing, dizziness, or fatigue, and can aggravate heart and lung diseases and other chronic health issues.
Experts suggest reducing or eliminating outdoor activities, wearing an N95 mask if you have to be outside and keeping your indoor air cleaner by closing windows and running an air purifier or air conditioner.
Check back for live updates.
From New York City Emergency Management: The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has issued an Air Quality Health Advisory for New York City.
Active children, adults, and people with lung diseases such as asthma should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors.
A thick layer of haze caused by Canadian wildfire smoke clouds the New York City skyline early Friday morning.
Brittany Bell says unhealthy air quality across will continue for most of the Tri-State area on Friday. However, winds will help to push in some healthier air during the afternoon from the city and areas to the north.
The air quality could still be unhealthy for most of New Jersey and south of the city this afternoon.
Researchers have found that every few hours spent outside when air quality is in the unhealthy range (AQI above 201), is roughly the equivalent of smoking a cigarette, according to the New York City Office of Emergency Management.
New York City's air quality hit at least 270 on Thursday evening.
