Today started off in Cleveland with the kind of sky that makes you wonder if your sunglasses are broken. A thick blanket of wildfire smoke has settled in, with temperatures near 70°F and visibility knocked down to around two miles. The smoke plume is dimming the sun, giving the city a muted, hazy look and a noticeable smoky smell in many neighborhoods. Air quality monitors are clocking readings in the unhealthy to hazardous range in spots, so people with respiratory or heart issues, along with children and older adults, are urged to stay indoors and avoid hard outdoor exercise.
Smoke And Air Quality
An Air Quality Alert is in effect through midnight tonight, and the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency is urging sensitive groups to limit time outside and use an N95 mask if they have to be out in it, according to NOACA. The haze is courtesy of Canadian wildfires, which have pushed fine particle levels into the unhealthy category in parts of the region. Those tiny particles can aggravate asthma and heart disease. Forecasters expect the thickest haze this morning, with a gradual trend toward improvement later today as winds shift.
When Relief Arrives And Severe Storms Possible
The National Weather Service says winds should swing around to a more southerly direction later today, ahead of a frontal system that will bring showers and thunderstorms through the area tomorrow. That round of rain should help scour out the smoke by tomorrow night, according to NWS Cleveland. Highs are expected to reach about 87°F today, with tomorrow climbing into the upper 80s and heat indices landing in the mid 90s in some neighborhoods.
Forecasters are flagging tomorrow afternoon into early evening as the main window for organized storms that could produce damaging wind gusts and pockets of heavy rain. Outdoor plans tomorrow afternoon deserve a backup option, especially for events that would be hard to move or pack up quickly.
What To Do
For today, dial back outdoor workouts, set air conditioners to recirculate if you can, and use a HEPA filter or keep windows closed to cut down on indoor smoke. Tomorrow, secure loose patio furniture, grills and umbrellas, and be ready to shift gatherings inside during the afternoon and evening if storms fire up. Keep tabs on hour-by-hour forecasts and AirNow for real-time air quality readings, and be prepared for brief power glitches if those stronger wind gusts materialize.
More From Hoodline
We covered the arrival of the smoke in our July 16 piece, and this update tightens the timing for tomorrow's severe weather chances and current advisories. Check out our earlier look at the smoke’s arrival for more detail on health guidance and local impacts. We will share further updates if advisories change or the severe threat shifts.
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