Northeast Ohio finally caught a break this morning. After days of choking Canadian wildfire smoke that shuttered restaurants and canceled events, the haze thinned, visibility improved and the air quality index in the Cleveland-Akron-Lorain area dropped to a moderate 74 by 8 a.m.
The relief comes with an expiration time. By mid-afternoon, forecasters warn, an entirely different threat will come roaring through.
Rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms are expected to race across the region this afternoon and evening, packing wind gusts as high as 70 mph, quarter-size hail and even the possibility of a few brief tornadoes, according to the National Weather Service in Cleveland. The main danger window runs from about 3 to 9 p.m., with storms sweeping generally northwest to southeast…