Northeast thunderstorms expected to clear Canadian wildfire smoke before World Cup final, meteorologists say

Smoke from Canadian wildfires that engulfed the Northeast in haze is expected to mostly clear from the New Jersey area just in time for the World Cup final on Sunday thanks to thunderstorms passing through, meteorologists said. There were 451 severe storm reports across the United States on Saturday, including three tornado reports, according to CBS News meteorologist Andrew Kozak.

Still, warnings of unhealthy air remained in effect Sunday across parts of the U.S., after President Trump laid blame on Canada for the smoke crossing the border. 

While the Northeast appeared to be largely in the clear leading up to the final between Spain and Argentina, another plume of smoke from wildfires burning in western Ontario was moving southward across the Great Lakes and Midwest, triggering air quality alerts from the Minneapolis area toward Cleveland. 

In those regions, smoke will likely linger into the early part of this week, Kozak said. He added that additional smoke may periodically reduce visibility and air quality across parts of the Ohio Valley.

Tyler Roys, a senior meteorologist at AccuWeather, told the Associated Press that some smoke may linger in the Northeast, too, with the potential to "make things hazy," although it would probably be "very faint."

"In terms of the thickest smoke, the smoke that has really been eye-popping and leads to poor air quality, that is not expected across New York City or much of the Northeast," Roys said.

The National Weather Service said early Sunday that more rain is expected in the Mid-Atlantic region, with a stalled front bringing locally heavy rainfall to eastern North Carolina. Three-day rainfall totals of 3-5 inches are expected in eastern North Carolina. 

The next storm system is expected to enter the Mid-Atlantic Tuesday and Wednesday, which will also bring the potential for additional flash flooding.

Severe weather had threatened the Ohio Valley through the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, with residents of New York City, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Cleveland seeing damaging winds, large hail, isolated tornadoes and flash flooding.

Northeast residents faced the potential for scattered flash flooding from D.C. to Boston, with rounds of storms possible ahead of a cold front moving into the region, according to the National Weather Service. Urban areas with high runoff will be the most susceptible to flash flooding. The storm caused flash flooding in parts of New York City and New Jersey. 

Singer-songwriter Noah Kahan's concert at Citi Field was canceled Saturday night due to inclement weather.

"This was a very difficult decision to make, but the first priority is always to keep everyone safe," an official statement said, in part.

Air quality conditions are expected to improve in the East as the cold front moves through. 

Heavy smoke from wildfires blazing in Canada and Minnesota has been smothering the Midwest and Northeast this week, bringing hazardous air quality for millions of people. The blanket of smoke has affected at least 19 states. 

Tens of thousands of fans gathering for the World Cup final in New Jersey on Sunday are expected to see improved smoke conditions by the time Spain vs. Argentina face off.

MLS analyst and former professional soccer player Sacha Kljestan told CBS News that if the rain doesn't help with the air quality, he does think it might be "a concern" for the game.

Kljestan said he doesn't see FIFA changing or postponing the final, but poor air quality could "slow the game down."

The New Jersey Department of Health on Saturday said at least 71 individuals reported to its emergency departments and urgent care facilities with asthma or asthma-like symptoms, but the number is within the range of daily visits observed in the weeks before smoke began impacting the region.

Farther south, in Texas, conditions continue to improve after deadly, devastating flooding, although some rivers are still running high. Two feet of rain fell across central Texas in just days, and recovery efforts are ongoing. Similar storms last year led to the deaths of over 100 people. 

Texas resident Kat Stafford said the rain washed away everything inside the business where she works. 

"I'm trying to dry out the main documents, papers and stuff, financial documents," Stafford told CBS News. 

In other places, roads are still impassable, so the Texas National Guard has taken to the skies for rescues and medical transports.