World Cup fans can breathe a little easier.
Smoke from massive Canadian wildfires is expected to retreat before Sunday’s final between Argentina and Spain at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, with meteorologists telling The Post they predict only a light haze and little impact on the championship match.
“The smoke will slowly start to retreat today. This morning and early this afternoon will be the peak hours before clearing out later today and tonight,” Fox Weather meteorologist Stephen McCloud said.
“By tomorrow, hazy skies will be possible; however smoke levels will be minimal. While air quality levels won’t be great, it will be no worse than a normal hazy summer day here in NYC thus not impacting the World Cup.”
The temperatures Sunday will start in the low 70s and reach a high in the low 80s in the New York-New Jersey metro area.
“It’s not to say that the air quality might not be a little bit reduced, but it’s not going to be nearly as bad as it has been,” added AccuWeather.com senior meteorologist John Feerick.
“I think tomorrow overall is going to be a very nice day … with lower humidity and plenty of sunshine.“
Meanwhile, “intense” storms brought flash flooding, damaging wind gusts and even isolated tornadoes to the Big Apple Saturday. Forecasts warned of tornadoes across the state.
McCloud said rounds of rain and storms will sweep through the area throughout Saturday.
“We expect rain to bring some much-needed relief to New Yorkers experiencing poor air quality over the weekend, but with it we may see the possibility of severe storms, flooding and tornadoes,” said Gov. Kathy Hochul, who warned New Yorkers Friday to “take the weather seriously.”
“While air quality has improved in portions of the State throughout Friday afternoon, lingering effects of smoke from Canadian wildfires continue to impact air quality into Saturday,” she said in a statement.
The storms will have a silver lining — as they will help dissipate the smoke, according to meteorologists.
“Those storms are going to help to kind of flush out some of the smoke and haze,” Feerick said.
“After the front moves through later tonight and tomorrow, we’re definitely going to see some improved air quality.”
An Air Quality Health Advisory remains still in effect until 11:59 p.m. Saturday night for Western New York, Central New York, Eastern Lake Ontario, New York City Metro and Long Island.
