Europe, December 2023
For 6 days, from 4 to 9 December 2023, 134 cities in Germany, Czechia, Austria and 8 more countries had PM2.5 at least twice their usual for the time of year. The worst reading was Banja Luka, Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina: 115.0 µg/m³ on 5 December, about 2.3× its usual 49.9. Ended 9 December.
Day by day
How it spread
Every city it reached
| City | Days | Highest | Above usual |
|---|---|---|---|
| StralsundMecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany | 4 | 74.17 December | 11× |
| TrappenkampSchleswig-Holstein, Germany | 2 | 55.27 December | 11× |
| LübeckSchleswig-Holstein, Germany | 3 | 58.96 December | 11× |
| KielSchleswig-Holstein, Germany | 3 | 56.97 December | 11× |
| Český TěšínMoravian-Silesian Region, Czechia | 5 | 103.08 December | 10× |
| CieszynSilesia, Poland | 5 | 103.08 December | 10× |
| TřinecMoravian-Silesian Region, Czechia | 3 | 104.07 December | 9.5× |
| Frýdek-MístekMoravian-Silesian Region, Czechia | 4 | 97.07 December | 9.5× |
| OpavaMoravian-Silesian Region, Czechia | 5 | 98.47 December | 9.4× |
| ItzehoeSchleswig-Holstein, Germany | 2 | 49.56 December | 8.7× |
| EberswaldeBrandenburg, Germany | 3 | 46.36 December | 8.7× |
| BützowMecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany | 3 | 58.46 December | 8.6× |
| BohumínMoravian-Silesian Region, Czechia | 5 | 92.17 December | 8.5× |
| Wodzisław ŚląskiSilesia, Poland | 5 | 92.17 December | 8.5× |
| RostockMecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany | 3 | 60.77 December | 8.3× |
| OstravaMoravian-Silesian Region, Czechia | 6 | 99.87 December | 8.2× |
| WismarMecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany | 3 | 60.86 December | 8.0× |
| GüstrowMecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany | 3 | 54.36 December | 8.0× |
| HavířovMoravian-Silesian Region, Czechia | 5 | 96.57 December | 7.8× |
| TepliceÚstí nad Labem Region, Czechia | 5 | 75.17 December | 7.6× |
| EisenhüttenstadtBrandenburg, Germany | 5 | 58.86 December | 7.5× |
| StudénkaMoravian-Silesian Region, Czechia | 5 | 93.67 December | 7.4× |
| MalchowMecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany | 2 | 43.96 December | 7.4× |
| MostÚstí nad Labem Region, Czechia | 5 | 54.16 December | 7.3× |
| KadaňÚstí nad Labem Region, Czechia | 2 | 53.46 December | 7.3× |
| Frankfurt (Oder)Brandenburg, Germany | 4 | 53.66 December | 6.8× |
| PřerovOlomouc Region, Czechia | 3 | 86.87 December | 6.7× |
| LitvínovÚstí nad Labem Region, Czechia | 5 | 55.06 December | 6.4× |
| Schwedt (Oder)Brandenburg, Germany | 4 | 47.36 December | 6.3× |
| HamburgHamburg, Germany | 2 | 45.16 December | 6.3× |
| LudwigslustMecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany | 2 | 42.36 December | 6.2× |
| Valašské MeziříčíZlín, Czechia | 3 | 75.87 December | 6.1× |
| StrausbergBrandenburg, Germany | 2 | 42.56 December | 6.1× |
| Veľká LomnicaPrešov Region, Slovakia | 1 | 31.87 December | 6.0× |
| FlensburgSchleswig-Holstein, Germany | 2 | 37.37 December | 5.8× |
| KroměřížZlín, Czechia | 2 | 52.97 December | 5.7× |
| Ústí nad LabemÚstí nad Labem Region, Czechia | 5 | 54.07 December | 5.6× |
| NeuruppinBrandenburg, Germany | 2 | 37.06 December | 5.5× |
| BerounCentral Bohemia, Czechia | 6 | 66.56 December | 5.4× |
| DěčínÚstí nad Labem Region, Czechia | 4 | 68.77 December | 5.3× |
| MalmöSkåne, Sweden | 2 | 25.87 December | 5.2× |
| ZnojmoSouth Moravian, Czechia | 3 | 51.46 December | 5.0× |
| BurghausenBavaria, Germany | 1 | 34.75 December | 5.0× |
| MartinŽilina Region, Slovakia | 6 | 55.66 December | 4.9× |
| KladnoCentral Bohemia, Czechia | 3 | 37.56 December | 4.9× |
| KelheimBavaria, Germany | 1 | 30.65 December | 4.8× |
| OlomoucOlomouc Region, Czechia | 3 | 64.97 December | 4.7× |
| MikulovSouth Moravian, Czechia | 1 | 35.96 December | 4.7× |
| WittenbergeBrandenburg, Germany | 1 | 27.16 December | 4.6× |
| ZlínZlín, Czechia | 3 | 50.27 December | 4.5× |
| Bernau bei BerlinBrandenburg, Germany | 2 | 39.86 December | 4.5× |
| České BudějoviceSouth Bohemian Region, Czechia | 3 | 39.56 December | 4.5× |
| PassauBavaria, Germany | 3 | 35.86 December | 4.4× |
| Karlova VesBratislava Region, Slovakia | 1 | 28.86 December | 4.3× |
| SokolovCarlsbad Region, Czechia | 2 | 28.05 December | 4.3× |
| ŽilinaŽilina Region, Slovakia | 5 | 54.87 December | 4.2× |
| EnnsUpper Austria, Austria | 4 | 45.06 December | 4.2× |
| AnsfeldenUpper Austria, Austria | 4 | 45.06 December | 4.2× |
| PardubicePardubice Region, Czechia | 2 | 40.96 December | 4.2× |
| Attnang-PuchheimUpper Austria, Austria | 2 | 36.55 December | 4.1× |
| Dallgow-DöberitzBrandenburg, Germany | 1 | 26.45 December | 4.1× |
| Neustadt an der DonauBavaria, Germany | 1 | 25.25 December | 4.1× |
| Moravská TřebováPardubice Region, Czechia | 4 | 54.36 December | 4.0× |
| TraunUpper Austria, Austria | 6 | 43.86 December | 4.0× |
| ŽideniceSouth Moravian, Czechia | 3 | 42.06 December | 4.0× |
| SlatinaSouth Moravian, Czechia | 3 | 42.06 December | 4.0× |
| PerchtoldsdorfLower Austria, Austria | 2 | 34.06 December | 4.0× |
| KreuzlingenThurgau, Switzerland | 1 | 25.04 December | 4.0× |
| KonstanzBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany | 1 | 25.04 December | 4.0× |
| EisenstadtBurgenland, Austria | 3 | 45.36 December | 3.9× |
| PilsenPlzeň Region, Czechia | 2 | 32.95 December | 3.9× |
| SchöneicheBrandenburg, Germany | 2 | 30.56 December | 3.9× |
| NeuenhagenBrandenburg, Germany | 2 | 30.56 December | 3.9× |
| Hradec KrálovéHradec Králové Region, Czechia | 2 | 43.37 December | 3.8× |
| Mladá BoleslavCentral Bohemia, Czechia | 2 | 41.06 December | 3.8× |
| LinzUpper Austria, Austria | 4 | 40.26 December | 3.8× |
| LiberecLiberec Region, Czechia | 1 | 33.46 December | 3.8× |
| KleinmachnowBrandenburg, Germany | 2 | 26.45 December | 3.8× |
| Spišská Nová VesKošice Region, Slovakia | 6 | 59.07 December | 3.7× |
| SmižanyKošice Region, Slovakia | 6 | 59.07 December | 3.7× |
| TullnLower Austria, Austria | 2 | 37.56 December | 3.7× |
| PraguePrague, Czechia | 2 | 33.96 December | 3.7× |
| SteyrUpper Austria, Austria | 2 | 31.06 December | 3.7× |
| AugsburgBavaria, Germany | 1 | 25.44 December | 3.7× |
| BrnoSouth Moravian, Czechia | 1 | 38.26 December | 3.6× |
| Sankt ValentinLower Austria, Austria | 3 | 37.16 December | 3.6× |
| MödlingLower Austria, Austria | 2 | 34.66 December | 3.6× |
| WelsUpper Austria, Austria | 4 | 33.85 December | 3.6× |
| LubnjowBrandenburg, Germany | 1 | 25.05 December | 3.6× |
| KlosterneuburgLower Austria, Austria | 2 | 37.06 December | 3.5× |
| Groß-EnzersdorfLower Austria, Austria | 1 | 30.86 December | 3.4× |
| Bad VöslauLower Austria, Austria | 2 | 29.26 December | 3.4× |
| Neu-UlmBavaria, Germany | 1 | 26.24 December | 3.4× |
| ViennaVienna, Austria | 1 | 30.26 December | 3.3× |
| Trostberg an der AlzBavaria, Germany | 1 | 26.54 December | 3.3× |
| TraunreutBavaria, Germany | 1 | 26.54 December | 3.3× |
| PrešovPrešov Region, Slovakia | 2 | 49.76 December | 3.2× |
| Sankt PöltenLower Austria, Austria | 2 | 30.86 December | 3.2× |
| TeltowBrandenburg, Germany | 2 | 30.05 December | 3.2× |
| UlmBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany | 1 | 27.54 December | 3.2× |
| PartizánskeTrenčín Region, Slovakia | 2 | 42.07 December | 3.1× |
| PrievidzaTrenčín Region, Slovakia | 1 | 40.87 December | 3.1× |
| TrenčínTrenčín Region, Slovakia | 3 | 35.46 December | 3.1× |
| AmstettenLower Austria, Austria | 2 | 31.86 December | 3.1× |
| WeizStyria, Austria | 2 | 31.46 December | 3.0× |
| NauenBrandenburg, Germany | 1 | 25.15 December | 3.0× |
| DunaújvárosFejér, Hungary | 2 | 36.09 December | 2.9× |
| BerlinState of Berlin, Germany | 2 | 32.76 December | 2.9× |
| KiefersfeldenBavaria, Germany | 1 | 31.56 December | 2.9× |
| TübingenBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany | 1 | 26.24 December | 2.9× |
| HumennéPrešov Region, Slovakia | 3 | 44.87 December | 2.8× |
| RužomberokŽilina Region, Slovakia | 4 | 43.69 December | 2.8× |
| Banská BystricaBanská Bystrica Region, Slovakia | 2 | 33.07 December | 2.8× |
| TrnavaTrnava Region, Slovakia | 1 | 30.06 December | 2.8× |
| LeibnitzStyria, Austria | 3 | 41.66 December | 2.6× |
| HandlováTrenčín Region, Slovakia | 1 | 28.07 December | 2.6× |
| SenicaTrnava Region, Slovakia | 2 | 26.56 December | 2.6× |
| Hainburg an der DonauLower Austria, Austria | 1 | 28.86 December | 2.5× |
| GrazStyria, Austria | 1 | 47.26 December | 2.4× |
| MahlowBrandenburg, Germany | 2 | 30.36 December | 2.4× |
| Žiar nad HronomBanská Bystrica Region, Slovakia | 1 | 27.38 December | 2.4× |
| KolárovoNitra Region, Slovakia | 2 | 25.46 December | 2.4× |
| Banja LukaSrpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina | 2 | 115.05 December | 2.3× |
| WolfsbergCarinthia, Austria | 1 | 33.36 December | 2.3× |
| WormsRheinland-Pfalz, Germany | 1 | 27.24 December | 2.3× |
| DejCluj County, Romania | 1 | 69.16 December | 2.2× |
| Cluj-NapocaCluj County, Romania | 1 | 38.06 December | 2.2× |
| ZvolenBanská Bystrica Region, Slovakia | 2 | 32.77 December | 2.2× |
| Klagenfurt am WörtherseeCarinthia, Austria | 1 | 28.76 December | 2.2× |
| SarajevoFederation of B&H, Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1 | 108.09 December | 2.1× |
| Vranov nad TopľouPrešov Region, Slovakia | 1 | 33.47 December | 2.1× |
| NitraNitra Region, Slovakia | 1 | 27.56 December | 2.1× |
| KošiceKošice Region, Slovakia | 1 | 35.69 December | 2.0× |
| LiberpolisCounty of Osijek-Baranja, Croatia | 1 | 30.79 December | 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 Germany and Czechia
Number 14 of 39 episodes in Germany and Czechia 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, December 2023134
Bars: cities reached; colour: the level of the episode's highest daily reading. All 39.
Use this page
SmogRank, Europe, December 2023: 134 cities with PM2.5 at twice their usual or more, 4 to 9 December 2023, smogrank.com/episodes/2023-12-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. Fire detections from NASA FIRMS; smoke maps from NOAA HMS.