SmogRank / Episodes / Germany
Germany, Czechia and 2 more countries, January 2024
For 1 day, on 1 January 2024, 17 cities in Germany, Czechia, Slovakia and 1 more countries had PM2.5 at least twice their usual for the time of year. The worst reading was Worms, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany: 47.5 µg/m³ on 1 January, about 3.4× its usual 14.0.
Likely New Year fireworks It came on the night of 31 December, when smoke from fireworks often fills the air over many cities at once.
Cities reached 17 in 4 countries
Days 1 1 January 2024
Worst day 1 January 17 cities counted
Furthest above usual 3.8× Most
Day by day
Play 1 January 17 cities at twice their usual or more
Kadaň Sokolov Litvínov Pilsen Altenburg Greiz Marktredwitz Gera Kladno Beroun Weiden Děčín Weißenfels Prague Schwandorf in Bayern Wittenberg Jena Saalfeld Lubnjow Köthen Weimar Mladá Boleslav Cottbus Passau Kelheim Blankenfelde-Mahlow Potsdam Kleinmachnow České Budějovice Liberec Brandenburg an der Havel Coburg Erfurt Falkensee Nauen Burg bei Magdeburg Neuenhagen Magdeburg Burghausen Strausberg Suhl Eisenhüttenstadt Sondershausen Linz Wels Frankfurt (Oder) Halberstadt Traunreut Traun Nordhausen Ansfelden Neuruppin Eberswalde Meiningen Ansbach Mühlhausen Jelenia Góra Steyr Pardubice Eisenach Wittenberge Schwedt (Oder) Amstetten Starnberg Augsburg Goslar Hansestadt Salzwedel Braunschweig Würzburg Salzgitter Gorzów Wielkopolski Göttingen Witzenhausen Aalen Fulda Znojmo Sankt Pölten Lauda-Königshofen Hildesheim Kłodzko Neu-Ulm Ulm Kassel Brno Židenice Hannover Klosterneuburg Aschaffenburg Perchtoldsdorf Kościan Vienna Biberach an der Riß Mödling Baden Großostheim Heilbronn Wrocław Michelstadt Ludwigsburg Hanau am Main Stuttgart Filderstadt Olomouc Reutlingen Marburg an der Lahn Nysa Rinteln Frankfurt am Main Gießen Poznań Tübingen Darmstadt Heidelberg Eschborn Bensheim Wiesloch Kroměříž Přerov Herrenberg Königstein im Taunus Pforzheim Karlova Ves Rüsselsheim am Main Lampertheim Bratislava Senica Mannheim Ludwigshafen am Rhein Speyer Zlín Mainz Bielefeld Warstein Wiesbaden Oyten Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen Karlsruhe Opava Opole Krapkowice Netphen Trnava Limburg an der Lahn Valašské Meziříčí Soest Baden-Baden Villingen-Schwenningen Delmenhorst Kędzierzyn-Koźle Racibórz Bad Kreuznach Trenčín Kalisz Ostrava Osnabrück Kaiserslautern Havířov Nitra Bendorf Koblenz Unna Lüdenscheid Kehl Jastrzębie Zdrój Neuwied Schwerte Český Těšín Cieszyn Partizánske Münster Hagen Třinec Dortmund Freiburg Friesoythe Prievidza Hattingen Wuppertal Bonn Handlová Katowice Czechowice-Dziedzice Müllheim Martin Gelsenkirchen Žiar nad Hronom Leverkusen Lingen Köln Essen Toruń Saarbrücken Łask Bottrop Ratingen Forbach Esztergom Oberhausen Düsseldorf Banská Bystrica Borken Duisburg Zvolen Ružomberok Enschede Bergheim Włocławek Trier Radomsko Zgierz Krefeld Łódź Jüchen Kutno Mönchengladbach Lunéville Épinal Berlin Wodzisław Śląski Bohumín Hradec Králové Ústí nad Labem Teplice Datteln Žilina Bamberg Teltow Munich Frýdek-Místek Halle (Saale) Bernau bei Berlin Worms Nuremberg Most 29 Dec 30 31 1 Jan 2 3 4 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
Worms Worms, 29 December: 2.3 µg/m³ Worms, 30 December: 6.0 µg/m³ Worms, 31 December: 8.2 µg/m³ Worms, 1 January: 47.5 µg/m³, 3.4× its usual 14.0 Worms, 2 January: 2.1 µg/m³ Worms, 3 January: 2.8 µg/m³ Worms, 4 January: 4.4 µg/m³ Frýdek-Místek Frýdek-Místek, 29 December: 6.3 µg/m³ Frýdek-Místek, 30 December: 5.5 µg/m³ Frýdek-Místek, 31 December: 10.1 µg/m³ Frýdek-Místek, 1 January: 45.5 µg/m³, 3.0× its usual 15.0 Frýdek-Místek, 2 January: no reading Frýdek-Místek, 3 January: no reading Frýdek-Místek, 4 January: no reading Žilina Žilina, 29 December: 27.2 µg/m³ Žilina, 30 December: 36.3 µg/m³ Žilina, 31 December: 24.3 µg/m³ Žilina, 1 January: 41.3 µg/m³, 2.3× its usual 18.0 Žilina, 2 January: 10.7 µg/m³ Žilina, 3 January: 10.7 µg/m³ Žilina, 4 January: 3.1 µg/m³ Most Most, 29 December: 4.9 µg/m³ Most, 30 December: no reading Most, 31 December: 22.3 µg/m³ Most, 1 January: 40.0 µg/m³, 3.8× its usual 10.5 Most, 2 January: 5.3 µg/m³ Most, 3 January: 3.9 µg/m³ Most, 4 January: no reading Nuremberg Nuremberg, 29 December: 4.9 µg/m³ Nuremberg, 30 December: 6.1 µg/m³ Nuremberg, 31 December: 10.4 µg/m³ Nuremberg, 1 January: 35.2 µg/m³, 3.5× its usual 10.0 Nuremberg, 2 January: 2.4 µg/m³ Nuremberg, 3 January: 4.1 µg/m³ Nuremberg, 4 January: 4.5 µg/m³ Teltow Teltow, 29 December: 5.1 µg/m³ Teltow, 30 December: 8.2 µg/m³ Teltow, 31 December: 13.2 µg/m³ Teltow, 1 January: 34.0 µg/m³, 2.5× its usual 13.6 Teltow, 2 January: 6.9 µg/m³ Teltow, 3 January: 4.6 µg/m³ Teltow, 4 January: 4.5 µg/m³ Bernau bei Berlin Bernau bei Berlin, 29 December: 3.6 µg/m³ Bernau bei Berlin, 30 December: 7.1 µg/m³ Bernau bei Berlin, 31 December: 12.1 µg/m³ Bernau bei Berlin, 1 January: 31.6 µg/m³, 3.1× its usual 10.1 Bernau bei Berlin, 2 January: 5.1 µg/m³ Bernau bei Berlin, 3 January: 3.0 µg/m³ Bernau bei Berlin, 4 January: 2.3 µg/m³ Bohumín Bohumín, 29 December: 8.1 µg/m³ Bohumín, 30 December: 6.5 µg/m³ Bohumín, 31 December: 48.8 µg/m³ Bohumín, 1 January: 29.7 µg/m³, 2.0× its usual 14.8 Bohumín, 2 January: 4.3 µg/m³ Bohumín, 3 January: no reading Bohumín, 4 January: no reading Wodzisław Śląski Wodzisław Śląski, 29 December: 8.1 µg/m³ Wodzisław Śląski, 30 December: 6.5 µg/m³ Wodzisław Śląski, 31 December: 48.8 µg/m³ Wodzisław Śląski, 1 January: 29.7 µg/m³, 2.0× its usual 14.8 Wodzisław Śląski, 2 January: 4.3 µg/m³ Wodzisław Śląski, 3 January: no reading Wodzisław Śląski, 4 January: no reading Halle (Saale) Halle (Saale), 29 December: 2.0 µg/m³ Halle (Saale), 30 December: 3.8 µg/m³ Halle (Saale), 31 December: 10.0 µg/m³ Halle (Saale), 1 January: 29.6 µg/m³, 3.1× its usual 9.6 Halle (Saale), 2 January: 2.7 µg/m³ Halle (Saale), 3 January: 1.7 µg/m³ Halle (Saale), 4 January: 3.6 µg/m³ Teplice Teplice, 29 December: 8.4 µg/m³ Teplice, 30 December: 7.1 µg/m³ Teplice, 31 December: 22.1 µg/m³ Teplice, 1 January: 28.9 µg/m³, 2.2× its usual 13.3 Teplice, 2 January: 7.7 µg/m³ Teplice, 3 January: 7.4 µg/m³ Teplice, 4 January: 4.5 µg/m³ Ústí nad Labem Ústí nad Labem, 29 December: 11.2 µg/m³ Ústí nad Labem, 30 December: 8.0 µg/m³ Ústí nad Labem, 31 December: 20.9 µg/m³ Ústí nad Labem, 1 January: 28.4 µg/m³, 2.2× its usual 12.9 Ústí nad Labem, 2 January: 8.4 µg/m³ Ústí nad Labem, 3 January: 9.6 µg/m³ Ústí nad Labem, 4 January: no reading Datteln Datteln, 29 December: 4.7 µg/m³ Datteln, 30 December: 6.2 µg/m³ Datteln, 31 December: 5.6 µg/m³ Datteln, 1 January: 27.8 µg/m³, 2.3× its usual 12.0 Datteln, 2 January: 2.8 µg/m³ Datteln, 3 January: 5.1 µg/m³ Datteln, 4 January: 5.2 µg/m³ Munich Munich, 29 December: 5.5 µg/m³ Munich, 30 December: 7.2 µg/m³ Munich, 31 December: 5.8 µg/m³ Munich, 1 January: 27.7 µg/m³, 2.6× its usual 10.7 Munich, 2 January: 1.8 µg/m³ Munich, 3 January: 2.0 µg/m³ Munich, 4 January: 2.4 µg/m³ Hradec Králové Hradec Králové, 29 December: 8.1 µg/m³ Hradec Králové, 30 December: 4.0 µg/m³ Hradec Králové, 31 December: 18.2 µg/m³ Hradec Králové, 1 January: 27.1 µg/m³, 2.1× its usual 12.8 Hradec Králové, 2 January: 4.9 µg/m³ Hradec Králové, 3 January: 4.3 µg/m³ Hradec Králové, 4 January: 3.5 µg/m³ Bamberg Bamberg, 29 December: 3.8 µg/m³ Bamberg, 30 December: 6.2 µg/m³ Bamberg, 31 December: 5.9 µg/m³ Bamberg, 1 January: 26.0 µg/m³, 2.5× its usual 10.5 Bamberg, 2 January: 2.4 µg/m³ Bamberg, 3 January: 1.3 µg/m³ Bamberg, 4 January: 1.6 µg/m³ Berlin Berlin, 29 December: 5.6 µg/m³ Berlin, 30 December: 9.5 µg/m³ Berlin, 31 December: 13.5 µg/m³ Berlin, 1 January: 25.5 µg/m³, 2.0× its usual 12.7 Berlin, 2 January: 6.4 µg/m³ Berlin, 3 January: 4.4 µg/m³ Berlin, 4 January: 3.3 µg/m³ 29 Dec 30 31 1 Jan 2 3 4 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
Most Ústí nad Labem Region, Czechia 1 1 January 10.5 3.8× Nuremberg Bavaria, Germany 1 1 January 10.0 3.5× Worms Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany 1 1 January 14.0 3.4× Bernau bei Berlin Brandenburg, Germany 1 1 January 10.1 3.1× Halle (Saale) Saxony-Anhalt, Germany 1 1 January 9.6 3.1× Frýdek-Místek Moravian-Silesian Region, Czechia 1 1 January 15.0 3.0× Munich Bavaria, Germany 1 1 January 10.7 2.6× Teltow Brandenburg, Germany 1 1 January 13.6 2.5× Bamberg Bavaria, Germany 1 1 January 10.5 2.5× Žilina Žilina Region, Slovakia 1 1 January 18.0 2.3× Datteln North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany 1 1 January 12.0 2.3× Teplice Ústí nad Labem Region, Czechia 1 1 January 13.3 2.2× Ústí nad Labem Ústí nad Labem Region, Czechia 1 1 January 12.9 2.2× Hradec Králové Hradec Králové Region, Czechia 1 1 January 12.8 2.1× Bohumín Moravian-Silesian Region, Czechia 1 1 January 14.8 2.0× Wodzisław Śląski Silesia, Poland 1 1 January 14.8 2.0× Berlin State of Berlin, Germany 1 1 January 12.7 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 34 of 42 episodes in Germany and Czechia since our records began, by cities reached.
Europe, 6 to 25 February 2023 608 Europe, 14 February to 1 March 2025 517 Europe, 1 to 14 February 2025 506 Europe, January and February 2026 502 Germany, Poland and 25 more countries, March 2025 463 Europe, 8 to 27 January 2024 449 Europe, 1 to 12 March 2026 444 Germany, France and 18 more countries, January 2025 381 Europe, 18 to 25 March 2026 362 Europe, March 2025 335 Europe, February and March 2024 264 Europe, November 2024 260 Germany, Czechia and 2 more countries, January 2024 17 Bars: cities reached; colour: the level of the episode's highest daily reading. All 42 .
Use this page SmogRank, Germany, Czechia and 2 more countries, January 2024: 17 cities with PM2.5 at twice their usual or more, 1 January 2024, smogrank.com/episodes/2024-01-germany-czechia-and-2-more-countries (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.
