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.
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Sources tell ABC News that FIFA officials are monitoring the air quality ahead of Sunday's World Cup final at MetLife Stadium.
If the match was to be rescheduled, it would be the first time in World Cup history that has happened.
As of now, the plans for a 3 p.m. kickoff are still in place and fans from all over the world are waiting with anticipation.
A haze continues to hang over the Tri-State area.
The toxic smoke is still impacting air quality Friday morning.
You can see it. You can smell it. Health officials say you should take it seriously.
The AQI is registering on the scale as "unhealthy." That means it's 151-200 and that some members of the general public may experience health effects; members of the sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects.
As more than 800 active fires continue to burn across Canada, smoke has descended on parts of the United States, including the Midwest and the Northeast.
For those who need to work outdoors, are more sensitive to smoke or are in a high-risk group, wearing a mask can help protect you -- as long as it's the right kind of mask.
Kai Chen, an associate professor of epidemiology at Yale School of Public Health, told ABC News that the best type of mask to wear is an N95, which is designed to filter at least 95% of airborne particles.
Chen said wildfire smoke is made up of fine solids, gases and fine particles, the latter of which is the most concerning.
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Lee says there will be some temporary improvement on Friday -- especially to the north.
