Meteorologists say wildfire smoke from Canadian fires that has produced hazardous air quality and a haze across much of the US Northeast is expected to lessen before the World Cup final on Sunday. Multiple outlets report that shifting weather patterns, including thunderstorms moving through the region, are expected to disperse or clear smoke over areas including New Jersey and the New York City area. Separate reporting notes that unhealthy air-quality warnings remain in effect Saturday across a wide swath of the United States. In the New York–New Jersey region, rain and thunderstorms are described as both a potential disruption risk and a factor that improves visibility and air quality. The Los Angeles Times reports that showers and thunderstorms led to a flash flood warning for parts of Manhattan and northeastern New Jersey on Saturday, while the same precipitation also helped “blow out” some of the smoke that had lingered for days. Other coverage similarly links the anticipated smoke improvement to thunderstorms. One outlet also cites ongoing political tensions between the US and Canada related to the wildfire smoke, alongside the impact of the Canadian fires, including evacuations and damage.