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Smoke is returning to NE Ohio on Sunday

Cleveland forecast from the Power of 5 weather team

By: Katie McGraw

Posted

and last updated

This weekend has been and will continue to be busy! Yesterday, scattered showers and storms rolled through our area during the afternoon with a couple of severe thunderstorm warnings and one brief tornado warning. As that area of low pressure exits our area only an isolated to widely scattered shower or storm is expected Sunday afternoon/evening.

While we may be drier today, we now have to focus on a different issue. Canadian wildfire smoke is sinking southeast back into our region this afternoon and will linger into tonight and Monday at least. Forecasting smoke can be fickle, so we will be monitoring air quality over the next few days and keep you posted.

ICYMI: Smoke is returning to Ohio. Booooooo!
It looks to get hazy/smoky during the afternoon and will linger into Monday. An air quality alert is in effect for today for portions of the area because the air is expected to become unhealthy for some.@wews pic.twitter.com/cfMKXoaeqH
— Katie McGraw (@KatieMcGrawx) July 16, 2023

An Air Quality Advisory has been issued by the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency for Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage and Summit Counties. The advisory is in effect until midnight EDT Sunday night. Air quality levels are expected to become unhealthy for some on Sunday. If you are in the sensitive groups category of children, the elderly and those with breathing difficulties, please monitor or even limit your outdoor activity.

Air quality is already unhealthy in Illinois and poorer air quality is slowly moving west to east. This screen shot of the interactive map on airnow.gov was taken shortly after 11 am on Sunday. We will likely notice the hazy/smoky sky by Sunday afternoon and into the evening. You can check out the current air quality here.

I am hopeful the smoke will not be as bad as a few weeks ago, because showers and storms are expected to swiftly return Monday afternoon and evening. This should help mix out the smoke. However, remember that as long as the fires continue to burn in Canada, smoke in our atmosphere will continue to impact the United States and Ohio.

Tomorrow's storm chance will increase during the afternoon and evening. The Storm Prediction Center has issued a marginal risk for severe weather for the entire viewing area. This is level 1, with 5 being the highest. We will watch the radar for damaging gusty winds, hail, and heavy rain being the main threats. Remember that every storm can be dangerous with the presence of lightning and the tornado threat is never zero. When thunder roars (you are close enough to be struck) and you need to get indoors.