Canadian wildfire smoke is not expected to significantly disrupt Sunday’s World Cup championship match, according to forecaster AccuWeather. More than 80,000 fans are scheduled to pack New York New Jersey Stadium to watch Argentina face Spain for the sport’s top honor.
Smoke from hundreds of active wildfires burning across Canada has spread across a wide portion of the United States this week, leading officials to issue air quality warnings in many areas.
AccuWeather noted that air quality readings in East Rutherford, New Jersey, may fall below “good levels” on Sunday. However, conditions are expected to be noticeably better than the “poor to unhealthy” air quality anticipated on Saturday.
Meteorologist Adam Douty offered some reassurance ahead of the match. “It may still not be considered good, but it should not be as bad as Saturday. It will also be less humid compared to Saturday, which will make for more comfortable conditions,” he said.
The New York-New Jersey area has been dealing with smoky, hazy skies throughout the week, with local authorities advising residents to limit intense outdoor physical activity.
Rain in the forecast for Saturday is expected to play a key role in clearing out much of the lingering smoke before kickoff Sunday.
