New York City is expected to experience “dirty rain” on Saturday as a storm system moves through, bringing with it particles from the smoke and haze caused by Canadian wildfires. While the precipitation may initially leave soot on cars and streets, experts anticipate it will help clear the unhealthy air that has affected the region.
AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist John Feerick explained that as rainwater falls, it will collect soot, ash, and other particulate matter suspended in the air. "There’s a lot of smoke and particulate matter in the air, so as we get rainfall, those water droplets are going to pick up some soot, some ash, and bring that to the ground," Feerick said. "At least initially, you’re probably gonna have a little bit of dirty spots or soot on cars and stuff like that."
Feerick noted that these effects are expected to be short-lived, with subsequent rain washing away the initial residue. The primary concern with the approaching storm is not the soot but the intensity of the rainfall and potential for damaging winds. Forecasters predict thunderstorms and wind gusts up to 65 mph, with rainfall rates of up to 2 inches per hour, raising concerns about localized flash flooding, particularly in urban areas.
The storm is anticipated to move through the city from mid- to late-morning Saturday, a time when air quality is projected to reach "very unhealthy" levels. The precipitation will drag down toxins that have traveled from the Canadian wildfires, including dust, soot, and metals. However, Feerick reassured that by Saturday night, the system will move out, leading to a significant decrease in humidity and a return to sunny skies by Sunday. "It doesn’t look like we’ll have the air quality issues that we’ve had,’’ Feerick said. “It looks like Sunday is going to be a pretty nice finish to the weekend.”