Europe, 4 to 7 March 2023
For 4 days, from 4 to 7 March 2023, 121 cities in France, Germany, Spain and 4 more countries had PM2.5 at least twice their usual for the time of year. The worst reading was Bihać, Federation of B&H, Bosnia and Herzegovina: 72.8 µg/m³ on 4 March, about 2.6× its usual 27.8. Ended 7 March.
Day by day
How it spread
Every city it reached
| City | Days | Highest | Above usual |
|---|---|---|---|
| La RochelleNew Aquitaine, France | 1 | 38.54 March | 6.9× |
| Lons-le-SaunierBourgogne-Franche-Comté, France | 2 | 34.04 March | 6.8× |
| MontluçonAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France | 3 | 45.44 March | 6.6× |
| Clermont-FerrandAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France | 3 | 43.24 March | 6.6× |
| Saint-ChamondAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France | 3 | 40.84 March | 6.6× |
| AlbertvilleAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France | 3 | 48.34 March | 6.5× |
| AngoulêmeNew Aquitaine, France | 3 | 42.54 March | 6.4× |
| ChambéryAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France | 3 | 49.04 March | 6.3× |
| NiortNew Aquitaine, France | 1 | 45.54 March | 6.1× |
| BordeauxNew Aquitaine, France | 4 | 50.94 March | 5.9× |
| MarmandeNew Aquitaine, France | 3 | 37.84 March | 5.9× |
| Bourg-en-BresseAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France | 3 | 47.24 March | 5.8× |
| ToulouseOccitanie, France | 4 | 42.94 March | 5.8× |
| MontaubanOccitanie, France | 4 | 41.34 March | 5.8× |
| PauNew Aquitaine, France | 3 | 39.34 March | 5.7× |
| Saint-ÉtienneAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France | 3 | 43.84 March | 5.5× |
| LormontNew Aquitaine, France | 2 | 42.24 March | 5.5× |
| Donostia / San SebastiánBasque Country, Spain | 3 | 31.44 March | 5.5× |
| RodezOccitanie, France | 3 | 30.64 March | 5.4× |
| LourdesOccitanie, France | 2 | 30.54 March | 5.4× |
| AnnemasseAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France | 3 | 46.44 March | 5.3× |
| LimogesNew Aquitaine, France | 3 | 41.54 March | 5.3× |
| AurillacAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France | 1 | 26.54 March | 5.3× |
| HernaniBasque Country, Spain | 3 | 37.25 March | 5.1× |
| VesoulBourgogne-Franche-Comté, France | 2 | 36.64 March | 5.1× |
| La Roche-sur-YonPays de la Loire, France | 1 | 35.84 March | 5.1× |
| MeylanAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France | 3 | 50.04 March | 5.0× |
| ChâteaurouxCentre-Val de Loire, France | 2 | 39.24 March | 5.0× |
| GetxoBasque Country, Spain | 1 | 29.36 March | 5.0× |
| GrenobleAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France | 3 | 47.14 March | 4.9× |
| ValenceAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France | 4 | 44.84 March | 4.9× |
| DurangoBasque Country, Spain | 3 | 36.06 March | 4.9× |
| PoitiersNew Aquitaine, France | 1 | 37.44 March | 4.7× |
| PérigueuxNew Aquitaine, France | 2 | 37.14 March | 4.7× |
| MâconBourgogne-Franche-Comté, France | 1 | 29.64 March | 4.7× |
| AngletNew Aquitaine, France | 1 | 26.64 March | 4.7× |
| TarbesOccitanie, France | 3 | 40.64 March | 4.6× |
| MoulinsAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France | 3 | 40.44 March | 4.6× |
| FreiburgBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany | 1 | 35.64 March | 4.6× |
| BesançonBourgogne-Franche-Comté, France | 1 | 34.04 March | 4.6× |
| BourgesCentre-Val de Loire, France | 1 | 37.54 March | 4.5× |
| Aix-en-ProvenceProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France | 3 | 34.54 March | 4.5× |
| Chalon-sur-SaôneBourgogne-Franche-Comté, France | 1 | 33.14 March | 4.5× |
| BilbaoBasque Country, Spain | 3 | 30.16 March | 4.4× |
| DijonBourgogne-Franche-Comté, France | 1 | 27.04 March | 4.4× |
| Romans-sur-IsèreAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France | 4 | 48.54 March | 4.3× |
| MeyzieuAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France | 3 | 42.94 March | 4.3× |
| Villefranche-sur-SaôneAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France | 2 | 40.04 March | 4.3× |
| Salon-de-ProvenceProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France | 4 | 32.85 March | 4.3× |
| Laudio / LlodioBasque Country, Spain | 3 | 30.86 March | 4.3× |
| MarignaneProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France | 3 | 37.34 March | 4.2× |
| Saint-DizierGrand Est, France | 1 | 33.14 March | 4.0× |
| Montceau-les-MinesBourgogne-Franche-Comté, France | 1 | 29.14 March | 4.0× |
| OlivetCentre-Val de Loire, France | 1 | 27.64 March | 4.0× |
| LindauBavaria, Germany | 2 | 38.84 March | 3.9× |
| OriaBasque Country, Spain | 2 | 31.75 March | 3.9× |
| KreuzlingenThurgau, Switzerland | 1 | 39.14 March | 3.8× |
| KonstanzBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany | 1 | 39.14 March | 3.8× |
| LörrachBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany | 1 | 34.34 March | 3.8× |
| MarseilleProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France | 4 | 31.95 March | 3.8× |
| GivorsAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France | 1 | 27.57 March | 3.8× |
| BloisCentre-Val de Loire, France | 1 | 27.04 March | 3.8× |
| FriedrichshafenBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany | 1 | 40.34 March | 3.7× |
| DaxNew Aquitaine, France | 2 | 36.35 March | 3.7× |
| BaselBasel-City, Switzerland | 1 | 34.34 March | 3.7× |
| ÉpinalGrand Est, France | 2 | 34.34 March | 3.7× |
| MüllheimBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany | 1 | 31.54 March | 3.7× |
| AuxerreBourgogne-Franche-Comté, France | 1 | 30.94 March | 3.7× |
| Kempten (Allgäu)Bavaria, Germany | 2 | 30.94 March | 3.6× |
| AmorebietaBasque Country, Spain | 3 | 30.06 March | 3.6× |
| VitrollesProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France | 4 | 33.95 March | 3.5× |
| LyonAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France | 2 | 34.44 March | 3.4× |
| VerdunGrand Est, France | 1 | 28.04 March | 3.4× |
| ForbachGrand Est, France | 1 | 26.44 March | 3.4× |
| AnnecyAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France | 3 | 40.54 March | 3.3× |
| ArlesProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France | 3 | 34.14 March | 3.3× |
| AvignonProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France | 4 | 33.54 March | 3.3× |
| Mont-de-MarsanNew Aquitaine, France | 2 | 26.14 March | 3.3× |
| GijónAsturias, Spain | 2 | 30.76 March | 3.2× |
| ManosqueProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France | 3 | 28.85 March | 3.2× |
| Joué-lès-ToursCentre-Val de Loire, France | 1 | 26.64 March | 3.2× |
| MontargisCentre-Val de Loire, France | 1 | 25.74 March | 3.2× |
| SallanchesAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France | 3 | 40.85 March | 3.1× |
| HaguenauGrand Est, France | 1 | 30.14 March | 3.1× |
| Eggenstein-LeopoldshafenBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany | 1 | 26.54 March | 3.1× |
| Fos-sur-MerProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France | 1 | 26.34 March | 3.1× |
| GardanneProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France | 4 | 32.95 March | 3.0× |
| MulhouseGrand Est, France | 2 | 32.54 March | 3.0× |
| OrléansCentre-Val de Loire, France | 2 | 30.44 March | 3.0× |
| ReutlingenBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany | 1 | 29.64 March | 3.0× |
| CannesProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France | 1 | 26.66 March | 3.0× |
| TrierRheinland-Pfalz, Germany | 1 | 29.94 March | 2.9× |
| TübingenBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany | 1 | 29.84 March | 2.9× |
| OviedoAsturias, Spain | 1 | 25.66 March | 2.8× |
| MelunÎle-de-France, France | 1 | 25.44 March | 2.8× |
| MontbéliardBourgogne-Franche-Comté, France | 2 | 32.84 March | 2.7× |
| StrasbourgGrand Est, France | 2 | 31.44 March | 2.7× |
| Neu-UlmBavaria, Germany | 1 | 28.94 March | 2.7× |
| Biberach an der RißBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany | 1 | 28.04 March | 2.7× |
| GapProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France | 1 | 27.24 March | 2.7× |
| MetzGrand Est, France | 1 | 26.74 March | 2.7× |
| MunichBavaria, Germany | 1 | 26.44 March | 2.7× |
| BihaćFederation of B&H, Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1 | 72.84 March | 2.6× |
| LunévilleGrand Est, France | 1 | 30.14 March | 2.6× |
| KarlsruheBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany | 1 | 27.44 March | 2.6× |
| KoblenzRheinland-Pfalz, Germany | 1 | 30.24 March | 2.5× |
| AugsburgBavaria, Germany | 1 | 27.14 March | 2.5× |
| UlmBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany | 1 | 28.74 March | 2.4× |
| NancyGrand Est, France | 1 | 28.44 March | 2.4× |
| IzegemFlanders, Belgium | 1 | 27.86 March | 2.4× |
| SpeyerRheinland-Pfalz, Germany | 1 | 31.34 March | 2.3× |
| NeuwiedRheinland-Pfalz, Germany | 1 | 29.64 March | 2.3× |
| MannheimBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany | 1 | 29.34 March | 2.3× |
| KehlBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany | 1 | 26.34 March | 2.3× |
| BurghausenBavaria, Germany | 1 | 25.84 March | 2.3× |
| VigoGalicia, Spain | 1 | 25.15 March | 2.3× |
| BensheimHesse, Germany | 1 | 25.14 March | 2.2× |
| KranjUrban Municipality of Kranj, Slovenia | 1 | 34.94 March | 2.1× |
| Ludwigshafen am RheinRheinland-Pfalz, Germany | 1 | 32.84 March | 2.1× |
| LampertheimHesse, Germany | 1 | 27.24 March | 2.1× |
| Novo MestoUrban Municipality of Novo Mesto, Slovenia | 1 | 36.24 March | 2.0× |
Daily means in µg/m³, over the days each city counted in this episode. Highest: its highest of those days. Usual: the city's median for the time of year of that day (its days within 21 days of the date, every year, leaving out the week around it). Above usual: its highest day against that, with a usual under 5 µg/m³ taken as 5.
Against other episodes in France and Germany
Number 17 of 53 episodes in France and Germany since our records began, by cities reached.
- Europe, 1 to 14 February 2025628
- Europe, January and February 2026625
- Europe, 14 February to 1 March 2025619
- Germany, Poland and 25 more countries, March 2025553
- Europe, 1 to 12 March 2026532
- Europe, 8 to 27 January 2024519
- Germany, France and 19 more countries, January 2025446
- Europe, 18 to 25 March 2026430
- Europe, March 2025401
- Europe, November 2024365
- Europe, February and March 2024303
- Europe, March and April 2024282
- Europe, 4 to 7 March 2023121
Bars: cities reached; colour: the level of the episode's highest daily reading. All 53.
Use this page
SmogRank, Europe, 4 to 7 March 2023: 121 cities with PM2.5 at twice their usual or more, 4 to 7 March 2023, smogrank.com/episodes/2023-03-04-europe (accessed 5 October 2026).
You're welcome to reuse a single chart, image or figure with this citation and a link. Terms.
An episode is a run of days when many cities close to each other (four or more within 350 km on a day, 8 or more in all) each had a daily PM2.5 mean of at least 25 µg/m³ and at least 2 times their usual for that time of year. Found in our own measurements, not picked by hand. How we find episodes. Values are each city's daily mean of its own monitors; causes are the usual kinds for a pattern like this, not a confirmed source.