SmogRank / Episodes / France
France, Spain and Germany, December 2023
For 4 days, from 16 to 19 December 2023, 33 cities in France, Spain and Germany had PM2.5 at least twice their usual for the time of year. The worst reading was Manlleu, Catalonia, Spain: 71.1 µg/m³ on 18 December, about 2.2× its usual 32.5.
No cause named We have no fire or smoke records for these days, so we only say what the measurements show.
Cities reached 33 in 3 countries
Days 4 16 to 19 December 2023
Worst day 18 December 22 cities counted
Furthest above usual 5.7× Forbach
Day by day
Play 18 December 22 cities at twice their usual or more
Saint-Étienne Aurillac Saint-Chamond Nevers Montceau-les-Mines Mâcon Bourges Chalon-sur-Saône Châteauroux Lunel Auxerre Castres Dijon Grenoble Meylan Lons-le-Saunier Chambéry Dole Périgueux Olivet Troyes Blois Fontainebleau Gap Perpignan Aix-en-Provence Annemasse Manosque Melun Albertville Marseille Étampes Besançon Poitiers Angoulême Tours Joué-lès-Tours Coulommiers Marmande Chartres Rambouillet Paris Saint-Dizier Vesoul Épernay Sarcelles les Escaldes Domont Girona Dreux Reims Creil Montbéliard Fréjus Épinal Évreux Verdun Cannes Louviers Saint-Quentin Alençon Bern Pau Nice Lunéville Barcelona Turin Amiens Rouen Monaco Metz La Rochelle Mulhouse Menton Vilanova i la Geltrú Basel Thionville Lisieux Lörrach Müllheim Dieppe La Roche-sur-Yon Luxembourg Tarragona Marche-en-Famenne Le Havre Freiburg Borgomanero Caen Anglet Alessandria Trier Couëron Kehl Zürich Lugano Bellinzona Villingen-Schwenningen Donostia / San Sebastián Baden-Baden Kaiserslautern Zarautz Karlsruhe Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen Kreuzlingen Konstanz Bad Kreuznach Calahorra Herrenberg Pforzheim Speyer Ludwigshafen am Rhein Tübingen Mannheim Lampertheim Wiesloch Heidelberg Mainz Stuttgart Wiesbaden Bensheim Rüsselsheim am Main Darmstadt Königstein im Taunus Eschborn Michelstadt Frankfurt am Main Großostheim Hanau am Main Aschaffenburg Worms Avignon Mollet del Vallès Manlleu Lleida Toulon Nîmes Gardanne Lourdes Arles Tarbes Vitrolles Angers Montpellier Fos-sur-Mer Valence Saarbrücken Romans-sur-Isère Nantes Nancy Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois Salon-de-Provence Rennes Bourg-en-Bresse Bordeaux Lormont Meyzieu Lyon Clermont-Ferrand Sallanches Toulouse Givors Forbach 13 Dec 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Every measured city in the area, coloured by its PM2.5 that day; a dark ring marks a city at twice its usual or more. Bars: cities counted each day, coloured by their median level. Choose a day or press play; without JavaScript, the days link to that day's world ranking.
How it spread
Sainte-Geneviève-de… Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois, 13 December: no reading Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois, 14 December: 9.4 µg/m³ Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois, 15 December: 18.2 µg/m³ Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois, 16 December: 32.9 µg/m³, 3.1× its usual 10.5 Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois, 17 December: 20.3 µg/m³ Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois, 18 December: 14.7 µg/m³ Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois, 19 December: 12.6 µg/m³ Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois, 20 December: 9.5 µg/m³ Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois, 21 December: 5.1 µg/m³ Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois, 22 December: 5.8 µg/m³ Nantes Nantes, 13 December: 4.1 µg/m³ Nantes, 14 December: 8.1 µg/m³ Nantes, 15 December: 16.9 µg/m³ Nantes, 16 December: 31.1 µg/m³, 3.0× its usual 10.2 Nantes, 17 December: 17.4 µg/m³ Nantes, 18 December: 12.7 µg/m³ Nantes, 19 December: 8.9 µg/m³ Nantes, 20 December: 5.4 µg/m³ Nantes, 21 December: 6.1 µg/m³ Nantes, 22 December: 5.3 µg/m³ Rennes Rennes, 13 December: 4.5 µg/m³ Rennes, 14 December: 8.0 µg/m³ Rennes, 15 December: 14.7 µg/m³ Rennes, 16 December: 30.0 µg/m³, 3.2× its usual 9.4 Rennes, 17 December: 23.1 µg/m³ Rennes, 18 December: 15.3 µg/m³ Rennes, 19 December: 7.7 µg/m³ Rennes, 20 December: 5.7 µg/m³ Rennes, 21 December: 6.9 µg/m³ Rennes, 22 December: 6.0 µg/m³ Angers Angers, 13 December: 4.8 µg/m³ Angers, 14 December: 6.4 µg/m³ Angers, 15 December: 21.8 µg/m³ Angers, 16 December: 26.6 µg/m³, 2.7× its usual 9.9 Angers, 17 December: 15.7 µg/m³ Angers, 18 December: 12.1 µg/m³ Angers, 19 December: 10.6 µg/m³ Angers, 20 December: 5.5 µg/m³ Angers, 21 December: 5.5 µg/m³ Angers, 22 December: 4.8 µg/m³ Sallanches Sallanches, 13 December: 12.1 µg/m³ Sallanches, 14 December: 13.2 µg/m³ Sallanches, 15 December: 11.5 µg/m³ Sallanches, 16 December: 32.0 µg/m³ Sallanches, 17 December: 54.9 µg/m³, 3.1× its usual 17.8 Sallanches, 18 December: 67.1 µg/m³, 4.1× its usual 16.2 Sallanches, 19 December: 49.1 µg/m³, 3.1× its usual 16.0 Sallanches, 20 December: 27.3 µg/m³ Sallanches, 21 December: 20.2 µg/m³ Sallanches, 22 December: 28.3 µg/m³ Gardanne Gardanne, 13 December: 12.2 µg/m³ Gardanne, 14 December: 4.4 µg/m³ Gardanne, 15 December: no reading Gardanne, 16 December: no reading Gardanne, 17 December: 34.7 µg/m³, 2.2× its usual 15.9 Gardanne, 18 December: 36.7 µg/m³, 2.5× its usual 14.7 Gardanne, 19 December: 35.4 µg/m³, 2.4× its usual 14.7 Gardanne, 20 December: 12.2 µg/m³ Gardanne, 21 December: 6.2 µg/m³ Gardanne, 22 December: 4.1 µg/m³ Lormont Lormont, 13 December: 5.8 µg/m³ Lormont, 14 December: 7.6 µg/m³ Lormont, 15 December: 7.5 µg/m³ Lormont, 16 December: 16.9 µg/m³ Lormont, 17 December: 33.6 µg/m³, 3.3× its usual 10.1 Lormont, 18 December: 31.0 µg/m³, 3.2× its usual 9.8 Lormont, 19 December: 13.7 µg/m³ Lormont, 20 December: 7.1 µg/m³ Lormont, 21 December: 6.0 µg/m³ Lormont, 22 December: 5.1 µg/m³ Forbach Forbach, 13 December: 2.8 µg/m³ Forbach, 14 December: 5.7 µg/m³ Forbach, 15 December: 8.1 µg/m³ Forbach, 16 December: 15.4 µg/m³ Forbach, 17 December: 33.3 µg/m³, 5.7× its usual 5.8 Forbach, 18 December: 23.3 µg/m³ Forbach, 19 December: 8.9 µg/m³ Forbach, 20 December: 3.9 µg/m³ Forbach, 21 December: 2.8 µg/m³ Forbach, 22 December: 2.9 µg/m³ Tarbes Tarbes, 13 December: 1.8 µg/m³ Tarbes, 14 December: 7.6 µg/m³ Tarbes, 15 December: 12.7 µg/m³ Tarbes, 16 December: 23.0 µg/m³ Tarbes, 17 December: 32.3 µg/m³, 2.6× its usual 12.5 Tarbes, 18 December: 31.7 µg/m³, 2.5× its usual 12.5 Tarbes, 19 December: 25.0 µg/m³, 2.0× its usual 12.5 Tarbes, 20 December: 6.3 µg/m³ Tarbes, 21 December: 2.0 µg/m³ Tarbes, 22 December: 1.8 µg/m³ Bordeaux Bordeaux, 13 December: 5.6 µg/m³ Bordeaux, 14 December: 6.3 µg/m³ Bordeaux, 15 December: 7.2 µg/m³ Bordeaux, 16 December: 23.8 µg/m³ Bordeaux, 17 December: 31.2 µg/m³, 3.3× its usual 9.6 Bordeaux, 18 December: 23.0 µg/m³ Bordeaux, 19 December: 13.3 µg/m³ Bordeaux, 20 December: 5.2 µg/m³ Bordeaux, 21 December: 5.5 µg/m³ Bordeaux, 22 December: 4.4 µg/m³ Fos-sur-Mer Fos-sur-Mer, 13 December: 9.6 µg/m³ Fos-sur-Mer, 14 December: 3.1 µg/m³ Fos-sur-Mer, 15 December: no reading Fos-sur-Mer, 16 December: no reading Fos-sur-Mer, 17 December: 29.2 µg/m³, 2.6× its usual 11.4 Fos-sur-Mer, 18 December: 30.8 µg/m³, 2.7× its usual 11.4 Fos-sur-Mer, 19 December: 27.2 µg/m³, 2.4× its usual 11.4 Fos-sur-Mer, 20 December: 5.4 µg/m³ Fos-sur-Mer, 21 December: 5.2 µg/m³ Fos-sur-Mer, 22 December: 4.7 µg/m³ Toulouse Toulouse, 13 December: 2.6 µg/m³ Toulouse, 14 December: 5.7 µg/m³ Toulouse, 15 December: 6.8 µg/m³ Toulouse, 16 December: 17.1 µg/m³ Toulouse, 17 December: 28.6 µg/m³, 2.8× its usual 10.3 Toulouse, 18 December: 44.3 µg/m³, 4.3× its usual 10.3 Toulouse, 19 December: 28.8 µg/m³, 2.9× its usual 9.9 Toulouse, 20 December: 7.2 µg/m³ Toulouse, 21 December: 2.1 µg/m³ Toulouse, 22 December: 3.3 µg/m³ Nancy Nancy, 13 December: 3.9 µg/m³ Nancy, 14 December: 6.7 µg/m³ Nancy, 15 December: 8.5 µg/m³ Nancy, 16 December: 15.3 µg/m³ Nancy, 17 December: 27.9 µg/m³, 3.1× its usual 9.1 Nancy, 18 December: 13.2 µg/m³ Nancy, 19 December: 8.8 µg/m³ Nancy, 20 December: 4.9 µg/m³ Nancy, 21 December: 3.4 µg/m³ Nancy, 22 December: 4.5 µg/m³ Nîmes Nîmes, 13 December: 7.0 µg/m³ Nîmes, 14 December: 2.2 µg/m³ Nîmes, 15 December: 2.3 µg/m³ Nîmes, 16 December: 3.1 µg/m³ Nîmes, 17 December: 27.7 µg/m³, 2.4× its usual 11.5 Nîmes, 18 December: 26.0 µg/m³, 2.3× its usual 11.5 Nîmes, 19 December: 23.6 µg/m³ Nîmes, 20 December: 5.4 µg/m³ Nîmes, 21 December: 2.3 µg/m³ Nîmes, 22 December: 1.1 µg/m³ Lourdes Lourdes, 13 December: 1.5 µg/m³ Lourdes, 14 December: 2.9 µg/m³ Lourdes, 15 December: 6.0 µg/m³ Lourdes, 16 December: 12.5 µg/m³ Lourdes, 17 December: 27.1 µg/m³, 2.6× its usual 10.3 Lourdes, 18 December: 23.7 µg/m³ Lourdes, 19 December: 20.5 µg/m³ Lourdes, 20 December: 4.3 µg/m³ Lourdes, 21 December: 2.2 µg/m³ Lourdes, 22 December: 1.2 µg/m³ Givors Givors, 13 December: 6.5 µg/m³ Givors, 14 December: 3.2 µg/m³ Givors, 15 December: 6.5 µg/m³ Givors, 16 December: 7.9 µg/m³ Givors, 17 December: 26.4 µg/m³, 2.0× its usual 13.1 Givors, 18 December: 53.3 µg/m³, 5.6× its usual 9.5 Givors, 19 December: 50.8 µg/m³, 5.5× its usual 9.2 Givors, 20 December: 24.6 µg/m³ Givors, 21 December: 10.5 µg/m³ Givors, 22 December: 4.5 µg/m³ Worms Worms, 13 December: 6.8 µg/m³ Worms, 14 December: 10.5 µg/m³ Worms, 15 December: 13.4 µg/m³ Worms, 16 December: 16.3 µg/m³ Worms, 17 December: 25.9 µg/m³, 2.1× its usual 12.1 Worms, 18 December: 23.6 µg/m³ Worms, 19 December: 13.7 µg/m³ Worms, 20 December: 4.2 µg/m³ Worms, 21 December: 1.3 µg/m³ Worms, 22 December: 2.2 µg/m³ Saarbrücken Saarbrücken, 13 December: 4.4 µg/m³ Saarbrücken, 14 December: 7.1 µg/m³ Saarbrücken, 15 December: 11.5 µg/m³ Saarbrücken, 16 December: 15.2 µg/m³ Saarbrücken, 17 December: 25.4 µg/m³, 2.9× its usual 8.9 Saarbrücken, 18 December: 23.4 µg/m³ Saarbrücken, 19 December: 12.5 µg/m³ Saarbrücken, 20 December: 6.1 µg/m³ Saarbrücken, 21 December: 1.8 µg/m³ Saarbrücken, 22 December: 3.7 µg/m³ Valence Valence, 13 December: 15.6 µg/m³ Valence, 14 December: 3.4 µg/m³ Valence, 15 December: 5.6 µg/m³ Valence, 16 December: 7.7 µg/m³ Valence, 17 December: 25.2 µg/m³, 2.0× its usual 12.6 Valence, 18 December: 33.4 µg/m³, 2.7× its usual 12.6 Valence, 19 December: 30.6 µg/m³, 2.4× its usual 12.6 Valence, 20 December: 11.0 µg/m³ Valence, 21 December: 12.0 µg/m³ Valence, 22 December: 4.4 µg/m³ Manlleu Manlleu, 13 December: 23.0 µg/m³ Manlleu, 14 December: 19.0 µg/m³ Manlleu, 15 December: 33.4 µg/m³ Manlleu, 16 December: 41.3 µg/m³ Manlleu, 17 December: 50.9 µg/m³ Manlleu, 18 December: 71.1 µg/m³, 2.2× its usual 32.5 Manlleu, 19 December: 63.7 µg/m³ Manlleu, 20 December: 63.2 µg/m³ Manlleu, 21 December: no reading Manlleu, 22 December: no reading Romans-sur-Isère Romans-sur-Isère, 13 December: 12.2 µg/m³ Romans-sur-Isère, 14 December: 3.6 µg/m³ Romans-sur-Isère, 15 December: 6.8 µg/m³ Romans-sur-Isère, 16 December: 9.7 µg/m³ Romans-sur-Isère, 17 December: 33.3 µg/m³ Romans-sur-Isère, 18 December: 49.3 µg/m³, 2.9× its usual 16.8 Romans-sur-Isère, 19 December: 32.6 µg/m³ Romans-sur-Isère, 20 December: 10.8 µg/m³ Romans-sur-Isère, 21 December: 10.6 µg/m³ Romans-sur-Isère, 22 December: 3.7 µg/m³ Lleida Lleida, 13 December: 14.2 µg/m³ Lleida, 14 December: 2.0 µg/m³ Lleida, 15 December: 8.1 µg/m³ Lleida, 16 December: 15.2 µg/m³ Lleida, 17 December: 30.8 µg/m³ Lleida, 18 December: 46.8 µg/m³, 2.2× its usual 21.1 Lleida, 19 December: 48.8 µg/m³, 2.3× its usual 21.1 Lleida, 20 December: 43.6 µg/m³ Lleida, 21 December: 20.1 µg/m³ Lleida, 22 December: 2.8 µg/m³ Lyon Lyon, 13 December: 5.2 µg/m³ Lyon, 14 December: 3.2 µg/m³ Lyon, 15 December: 5.7 µg/m³ Lyon, 16 December: 7.9 µg/m³ Lyon, 17 December: 22.8 µg/m³ Lyon, 18 December: 43.6 µg/m³, 3.5× its usual 12.6 Lyon, 19 December: 38.3 µg/m³, 3.1× its usual 12.5 Lyon, 20 December: 20.3 µg/m³ Lyon, 21 December: 13.5 µg/m³ Lyon, 22 December: 2.5 µg/m³ Meyzieu Meyzieu, 13 December: 5.7 µg/m³ Meyzieu, 14 December: 3.9 µg/m³ Meyzieu, 15 December: 8.8 µg/m³ Meyzieu, 16 December: 10.5 µg/m³ Meyzieu, 17 December: 21.9 µg/m³ Meyzieu, 18 December: 39.9 µg/m³, 3.5× its usual 11.5 Meyzieu, 19 December: 28.6 µg/m³, 2.5× its usual 11.3 Meyzieu, 20 December: 18.9 µg/m³ Meyzieu, 21 December: 11.3 µg/m³ Meyzieu, 22 December: 3.4 µg/m³ Vitrolles Vitrolles, 13 December: 13.6 µg/m³ Vitrolles, 14 December: 3.7 µg/m³ Vitrolles, 15 December: no reading Vitrolles, 16 December: no reading Vitrolles, 17 December: 23.7 µg/m³ Vitrolles, 18 December: 32.6 µg/m³, 2.6× its usual 12.7 Vitrolles, 19 December: 27.9 µg/m³, 2.2× its usual 12.7 Vitrolles, 20 December: 6.3 µg/m³ Vitrolles, 21 December: 4.6 µg/m³ Vitrolles, 22 December: 3.5 µg/m³ Arles Arles, 13 December: 9.0 µg/m³ Arles, 14 December: 2.8 µg/m³ Arles, 15 December: no reading Arles, 16 December: no reading Arles, 17 December: 19.9 µg/m³ Arles, 18 December: 31.6 µg/m³, 2.6× its usual 12.3 Arles, 19 December: 27.9 µg/m³, 2.3× its usual 12.1 Arles, 20 December: 4.6 µg/m³ Arles, 21 December: 4.0 µg/m³ Arles, 22 December: 2.9 µg/m³ Bourg-en-Bresse Bourg-en-Bresse, 13 December: 4.9 µg/m³ Bourg-en-Bresse, 14 December: 5.3 µg/m³ Bourg-en-Bresse, 15 December: 11.3 µg/m³ Bourg-en-Bresse, 16 December: 12.1 µg/m³ Bourg-en-Bresse, 17 December: 18.4 µg/m³ Bourg-en-Bresse, 18 December: 30.0 µg/m³, 3.3× its usual 9.0 Bourg-en-Bresse, 19 December: 19.3 µg/m³ Bourg-en-Bresse, 20 December: 17.5 µg/m³ Bourg-en-Bresse, 21 December: 3.9 µg/m³ Bourg-en-Bresse, 22 December: 3.6 µg/m³ Montpellier Montpellier, 13 December: 3.0 µg/m³ Montpellier, 14 December: 2.8 µg/m³ Montpellier, 15 December: 4.3 µg/m³ Montpellier, 16 December: 7.9 µg/m³ Montpellier, 17 December: 19.1 µg/m³ Montpellier, 18 December: 29.3 µg/m³, 2.7× its usual 10.9 Montpellier, 19 December: 16.0 µg/m³ Montpellier, 20 December: 2.8 µg/m³ Montpellier, 21 December: 1.3 µg/m³ Montpellier, 22 December: 1.8 µg/m³ Avignon Avignon, 13 December: 23.2 µg/m³ Avignon, 14 December: 2.7 µg/m³ Avignon, 15 December: no reading Avignon, 16 December: no reading Avignon, 17 December: 22.4 µg/m³ Avignon, 18 December: 29.1 µg/m³, 2.1× its usual 13.8 Avignon, 19 December: 30.7 µg/m³, 2.2× its usual 13.9 Avignon, 20 December: 4.2 µg/m³ Avignon, 21 December: 4.0 µg/m³ Avignon, 22 December: 2.6 µg/m³ Clermont-Ferrand Clermont-Ferrand, 13 December: 1.7 µg/m³ Clermont-Ferrand, 14 December: 2.0 µg/m³ Clermont-Ferrand, 15 December: 7.7 µg/m³ Clermont-Ferrand, 16 December: 9.6 µg/m³ Clermont-Ferrand, 17 December: 18.7 µg/m³ Clermont-Ferrand, 18 December: 28.9 µg/m³, 3.9× its usual 7.4 Clermont-Ferrand, 19 December: 20.7 µg/m³ Clermont-Ferrand, 20 December: 6.0 µg/m³ Clermont-Ferrand, 21 December: 0.6 µg/m³ Clermont-Ferrand, 22 December: 1.3 µg/m³ Toulon Toulon, 13 December: 5.8 µg/m³ Toulon, 14 December: 2.6 µg/m³ Toulon, 15 December: no reading Toulon, 16 December: no reading Toulon, 17 December: 19.6 µg/m³ Toulon, 18 December: 27.2 µg/m³, 2.4× its usual 11.5 Toulon, 19 December: 29.9 µg/m³ Toulon, 20 December: 25.5 µg/m³ Toulon, 21 December: 4.1 µg/m³ Toulon, 22 December: 3.8 µg/m³ Salon-de-Provence Salon-de-Provence, 13 December: 12.6 µg/m³ Salon-de-Provence, 14 December: 2.2 µg/m³ Salon-de-Provence, 15 December: no reading Salon-de-Provence, 16 December: no reading Salon-de-Provence, 17 December: 23.5 µg/m³ Salon-de-Provence, 18 December: 27.1 µg/m³, 3.2× its usual 8.5 Salon-de-Provence, 19 December: 20.3 µg/m³ Salon-de-Provence, 20 December: 3.8 µg/m³ Salon-de-Provence, 21 December: 3.0 µg/m³ Salon-de-Provence, 22 December: 1.7 µg/m³ Mollet del Vallès Mollet del Vallès, 13 December: no reading Mollet del Vallès, 14 December: no reading Mollet del Vallès, 15 December: no reading Mollet del Vallès, 16 December: no reading Mollet del Vallès, 17 December: no reading Mollet del Vallès, 18 December: 25.7 µg/m³ Mollet del Vallès, 19 December: 39.5 µg/m³, 2.2× its usual 18.1 Mollet del Vallès, 20 December: 40.0 µg/m³ Mollet del Vallès, 21 December: 33.8 µg/m³ Mollet del Vallès, 22 December: 13.0 µg/m³ 13 Dec 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Every counted city, in the order the episode reached them, 3 days before to 3 after. Each square is a day, coloured by that day's PM2.5; outlined: at twice the city's usual or more. Good 0–50
Moderate 51–100
Sensitive groups 101–150
Unhealthy 151–200
Very unhealthy 201–300
Hazardous 301+
Every city it reached
City Days Highest Usual Above usual
Forbach Grand Est, France 1 17 December 5.8 5.7× Givors Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France 3 18 December 9.5 5.6× Toulouse Occitanie, France 3 18 December 10.3 4.3× Sallanches Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France 3 18 December 16.2 4.1× Clermont-Ferrand Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France 1 18 December 7.4 3.9× Lyon Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France 2 18 December 12.6 3.5× Meyzieu Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France 2 18 December 11.5 3.5× Lormont New Aquitaine, France 2 17 December 10.1 3.3× Bordeaux New Aquitaine, France 1 17 December 9.6 3.3× Bourg-en-Bresse Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France 1 18 December 9.0 3.3× Rennes Brittany, France 1 16 December 9.4 3.2× Salon-de-Provence Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France 1 18 December 8.5 3.2× Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois Île-de-France, France 1 16 December 10.5 3.1× Nancy Grand Est, France 1 17 December 9.1 3.1× Nantes Pays de la Loire, France 1 16 December 10.2 3.0× Romans-sur-Isère Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France 1 18 December 16.8 2.9× Saarbrücken Saarland, Germany 1 17 December 8.9 2.9× Valence Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France 3 18 December 12.6 2.7× Fos-sur-Mer Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France 3 18 December 11.4 2.7× Montpellier Occitanie, France 1 18 December 10.9 2.7× Angers Pays de la Loire, France 1 16 December 9.9 2.7× Vitrolles Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France 2 18 December 12.7 2.6× Tarbes Occitanie, France 3 17 December 12.5 2.6× Arles Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France 2 18 December 12.3 2.6× Lourdes Occitanie, France 1 17 December 10.3 2.6× Gardanne Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France 3 18 December 14.7 2.5× Nîmes Occitanie, France 2 17 December 11.5 2.4× Toulon Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France 1 18 December 11.5 2.4× Lleida Catalonia, Spain 2 19 December 21.1 2.3× Manlleu Catalonia, Spain 1 18 December 32.5 2.2× Mollet del Vallès Catalonia, Spain 1 19 December 18.1 2.2× Avignon Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France 2 19 December 13.9 2.2× Worms Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany 1 17 December 12.1 2.1×
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 Spain
Number 15 of 58 episodes in France and Spain since our records began, by cities reached.
Europe, 28 February to 4 March 2023 279 Europe, December 2025 to January 2026 169 Europe, March 2023 121 Western Europe, January 2024 117 Western Europe, December 2024 75 Spain, France and Portugal, February 2023 72 France, The Netherlands and United Kingdom, January 2023 66 Europe, June 2025 65 Spain, Portugal and Andorra, August 2025 44 Spain, France and 2 more countries, December 2023 to January 2024 44 France, Belgium and 2 more countries, November and December 2023 43 Southern Europe, February 2024 38 France, Spain and Germany, December 2023 33 Bars: cities reached; colour: the level of the episode's highest daily reading. All 58 .
Use this page SmogRank, France, Spain and Germany, December 2023: 33 cities with PM2.5 at twice their usual or more, 16 to 19 December 2023, smogrank.com/episodes/2023-12-france-spain-and-germany (accessed 4 October 2026).
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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.
