Southern Europe, December 2023
For 6 days, from 16 to 21 December 2023, 97 cities in France, Italy, Slovakia and 11 more countries had PM2.5 at least twice their usual for the time of year. The worst reading was Sarajevo, Federation of B&H, Bosnia and Herzegovina: 230.0 µg/m³ on 20 December, about 5.1× its usual 44.8.
Day by day
How it spread
Every city it reached
| City | Days | Highest | Above usual |
|---|---|---|---|
| ForbachGrand Est, France | 1 | 33.317 December | 5.7× |
| GivorsAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France | 3 | 53.318 December | 5.6× |
| SarajevoFederation of B&H, Bosnia and Herzegovina | 4 | 230.020 December | 5.1× |
| PratoTuscany, Italy | 3 | 76.521 December | 4.7× |
| PristinaPristina, Kosovo | 3 | 94.220 December | 4.6× |
| FlorenceTuscany, Italy | 3 | 56.521 December | 4.5× |
| ToulouseOccitanie, France | 3 | 44.318 December | 4.3× |
| PisaTuscany, Italy | 4 | 46.021 December | 4.3× |
| CapannoriTuscany, Italy | 4 | 123.019 December | 4.2× |
| SallanchesAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France | 3 | 67.118 December | 4.1× |
| ViareggioTuscany, Italy | 4 | 53.019 December | 4.1× |
| Clermont-FerrandAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France | 1 | 28.918 December | 3.9× |
| Banja LukaSrpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina | 4 | 190.019 December | 3.6× |
| České BudějoviceSouth Bohemian Region, Czechia | 3 | 37.918 December | 3.5× |
| MeyzieuAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France | 2 | 39.918 December | 3.5× |
| LyonAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France | 2 | 43.618 December | 3.5× |
| BelgradeCentral Serbia, Serbia | 3 | 95.319 December | 3.5× |
| Bourg-en-BresseAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France | 1 | 30.018 December | 3.3× |
| LormontNew Aquitaine, France | 2 | 33.617 December | 3.3× |
| RužomberokŽilina Region, Slovakia | 1 | 58.819 December | 3.3× |
| MontemurloTuscany, Italy | 3 | 73.021 December | 3.3× |
| ArezzoTuscany, Italy | 3 | 56.020 December | 3.3× |
| HumennéPrešov Region, Slovakia | 2 | 54.919 December | 3.3× |
| BordeauxNew Aquitaine, France | 1 | 31.217 December | 3.3× |
| PardubicePardubice Region, Czechia | 2 | 39.618 December | 3.2× |
| BotevgradSofia, Bulgaria | 3 | 71.319 December | 3.2× |
| Novi SadVojvodina, Serbia | 3 | 68.719 December | 3.2× |
| RennesBrittany, France | 1 | 30.016 December | 3.2× |
| Salon-de-ProvenceProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France | 1 | 27.118 December | 3.2× |
| CraiovaDolj, Romania | 2 | 49.919 December | 3.2× |
| Hradec KrálovéHradec Králové Region, Czechia | 2 | 40.319 December | 3.1× |
| HandlováTrenčín Region, Slovakia | 3 | 41.418 December | 3.1× |
| Sainte-Geneviève-des-BoisÎle-de-France, France | 1 | 32.916 December | 3.1× |
| LivornoTuscany, Italy | 1 | 25.020 December | 3.1× |
| NancyGrand Est, France | 1 | 27.917 December | 3.1× |
| GyőrGyőr-Moson-Sopron, Hungary | 1 | 48.719 December | 3.1× |
| NantesPays de la Loire, France | 1 | 31.116 December | 3.0× |
| NišCentral Serbia, Serbia | 3 | 120.520 December | 3.0× |
| Romans-sur-IsèreAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France | 1 | 49.318 December | 2.9× |
| SninaPrešov Region, Slovakia | 1 | 28.919 December | 2.9× |
| AnconaThe Marches, Italy | 2 | 44.321 December | 2.9× |
| HaskovoHaskovo, Bulgaria | 2 | 63.520 December | 2.9× |
| BeneventoCampania, Italy | 3 | 65.820 December | 2.9× |
| SaarbrückenSaarland, Germany | 1 | 25.417 December | 2.9× |
| Banská BystricaBanská Bystrica Region, Slovakia | 2 | 46.919 December | 2.8× |
| CasertaCampania, Italy | 2 | 34.920 December | 2.8× |
| BitolaBitola, North Macedonia | 1 | 119.119 December | 2.8× |
| SalernoCampania, Italy | 2 | 27.719 December | 2.7× |
| Fos-sur-MerProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France | 3 | 30.818 December | 2.7× |
| MontpellierOccitanie, France | 1 | 29.318 December | 2.7× |
| AngersPays de la Loire, France | 1 | 26.616 December | 2.7× |
| ValenceAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France | 3 | 33.418 December | 2.7× |
| LourdesOccitanie, France | 1 | 27.117 December | 2.6× |
| ToulonProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France | 1 | 29.919 December | 2.6× |
| TarbesOccitanie, France | 3 | 32.317 December | 2.6× |
| ArlesProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France | 2 | 31.618 December | 2.6× |
| VitrollesProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France | 2 | 32.618 December | 2.6× |
| MödlingLower Austria, Austria | 1 | 30.219 December | 2.5× |
| GardanneProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France | 3 | 36.718 December | 2.5× |
| KlosterneuburgLower Austria, Austria | 1 | 34.119 December | 2.5× |
| NaplesCampania, Italy | 3 | 46.820 December | 2.4× |
| NîmesOccitanie, France | 2 | 27.717 December | 2.4× |
| PécsBaranya, Hungary | 1 | 39.520 December | 2.4× |
| PrievidzaTrenčín Region, Slovakia | 4 | 39.020 December | 2.4× |
| EsztergomKomárom-Esztergom, Hungary | 1 | 38.319 December | 2.4× |
| LinzUpper Austria, Austria | 2 | 30.818 December | 2.4× |
| PartizánskeTrenčín Region, Slovakia | 2 | 36.420 December | 2.4× |
| SzegedCsongrád, Hungary | 1 | 34.720 December | 2.3× |
| NyíregyházaSzabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg, Hungary | 1 | 43.019 December | 2.3× |
| Mladá BoleslavCentral Bohemia, Czechia | 2 | 33.518 December | 2.3× |
| BrnoSouth Moravian, Czechia | 1 | 33.719 December | 2.3× |
| LleidaCatalonia, Spain | 2 | 48.819 December | 2.3× |
| TetovoTetovo, North Macedonia | 1 | 154.019 December | 2.3× |
| BratislavaBratislava Region, Slovakia | 2 | 30.019 December | 2.3× |
| ŽideniceSouth Moravian, Czechia | 1 | 29.519 December | 2.3× |
| KošiceKošice Region, Slovakia | 1 | 41.317 December | 2.3× |
| WelsUpper Austria, Austria | 1 | 28.519 December | 2.3× |
| Cluj-NapocaCluj County, Romania | 1 | 43.418 December | 2.2× |
| Mollet del VallèsCatalonia, Spain | 1 | 40.020 December | 2.2× |
| AlbertvilleAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France | 1 | 25.420 December | 2.2× |
| AvignonProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France | 2 | 30.719 December | 2.2× |
| PerchtoldsdorfLower Austria, Austria | 1 | 26.219 December | 2.2× |
| ManlleuCatalonia, Spain | 1 | 71.118 December | 2.2× |
| MiskolcBorsod-Abaúj-Zemplén, Hungary | 1 | 55.717 December | 2.2× |
| MassaTuscany, Italy | 1 | 36.020 December | 2.2× |
| TrenčínTrenčín Region, Slovakia | 1 | 29.716 December | 2.2× |
| PoggibonsiTuscany, Italy | 1 | 28.019 December | 2.2× |
| WormsRheinland-Pfalz, Germany | 1 | 25.917 December | 2.1× |
| VelesVeles, North Macedonia | 1 | 95.819 December | 2.1× |
| SenicaTrnava Region, Slovakia | 1 | 28.519 December | 2.1× |
| ViennaVienna, Austria | 1 | 25.019 December | 2.1× |
| Valašské MeziříčíZlín, Czechia | 1 | 30.616 December | 2.1× |
| SkopjeGrad Skopje, North Macedonia | 1 | 103.020 December | 2.1× |
| GrazStyria, Austria | 2 | 45.220 December | 2.1× |
| Vranov nad TopľouPrešov Region, Slovakia | 1 | 32.919 December | 2.1× |
| RuseRuse, Bulgaria | 1 | 36.820 December | 2.1× |
| LitvínovÚstí nad Labem Region, Czechia | 1 | 25.118 December | 2.1× |
Daily means in µg/m³. Usual: the city's median for this time of year (its days within 21 days of the date, every year, leaving out the week around it). Above usual: its highest day against that.
Against other episodes in France and Italy
Number 3 of 13 episodes in France and Italy since our records began, by cities reached.
- Central Europe, February and March 2023274
- Western Europe, March 2023119
- Southern Europe, December 202397
- North-eastern Spain and France, February 202372
- France, The Netherlands and United Kingdom, January 202366
- France, Belgium and United Kingdom, November and December 202343
- France and Belgium, April 202336
- Belgium and France, August 202315
- Campania and Apulia, Italy, February 202310
- France and The Netherlands, January 20239
- France, November 20238
- Italy and France, November 20238
Bars: cities reached; colour: the level of the episode's highest daily reading. All 13.
Use this page
SmogRank, Southern Europe, December 2023: 97 cities with PM2.5 at twice their usual or more, 16 to 21 December 2023, smogrank.com/episodes/2023-12-southern-europe (accessed 2 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.