SmogRank / Episodes / Belgium
Belgium, The Netherlands and United Kingdom, May 2024
For 1 day, on 2 May 2024, 24 cities in Belgium, the United Kingdom and The Netherlands had PM2.5 at least twice their usual for the time of year. The worst reading was Lochristi, Flanders, Belgium: 40.0 µg/m³ on 2 May, about 4.1× its usual 9.7.
No cause named We have no fire or smoke records for these days, so we only say what the measurements show.
Cities reached 24 in 3 countries
Days 1 2 May 2024
Worst day 2 May 24 cities counted
Furthest above usual 5.0× Mons
Day by day
Play 2 May 24 cities at twice their usual or more
Canterbury Clacton-on-Sea Norwich Canvey Island Gillingham Dieppe Grays Dartford Newmarket Dagenham Bexley Seaford Rouen Maassluis London Spijkenisse The Hague Brighton Louviers Schiedam Rotterdam Biggleswade Charleroi Évreux Ridderkerk Hayes Hillegom Breda Le Havre Aarschot Velserbroek Velsen-Zuid Reims Badhoevedorp Namur Lisieux Zaanstad Amsterdam Tilburg IJsselstein Maarssen Purmerend Reading Utrecht Andenne Hasselt Portsmouth Houthalen Caen Medemblik Eindhoven Oxford Flémalle-Haute Marche-en-Famenne Kingston upon Hull Liège Southampton Barneveld Andover Royal Leamington Spa Nijmegen Venray Heerlen Eupen Aachen Chesterfield Venlo Cherbourg Sheffield Nettetal Birmingham Barnsley Jülich Esch-sur-Alzette Mönchengladbach Luxembourg Jüchen Leeds Krefeld Thionville Wesel Bergheim Stoke-on-Trent Metz Duisburg Düsseldorf Bristol Ratingen Oberhausen Borken Trier Bottrop Groningen Manchester Köln Enschede Leverkusen Essen Gelsenkirchen Irlam Bonn Dillingen Wuppertal Hattingen Newport Warrington Wigan Datteln Cardiff Saarbrücken Lingen Speke Dortmund Hagen Preston Neuwied Schwerte Liverpool Lüdenscheid Bendorf Münster Koblenz Unna Newton Abbot Briton Ferry Bad Kreuznach Kaiserslautern Friesoythe Soest Netphen Osnabrück Limburg an der Lahn Barnstaple Warstein Wiesbaden Mainz Plymouth Oldenburg Wilhelmshaven Saltash Rüsselsheim am Main Bielefeld Königstein im Taunus Worms Hattersheim Eschborn Lampertheim Ludwigshafen am Rhein Mannheim Speyer Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen Karlsruhe Bensheim Delmenhorst Bremerhaven Kortrijk Izegem Roeselare Northampton Menen Koksijde Willebroek Mechelen Brussels 's-Gravenzande Grimbergen Beveren Evergem Zaventem Mol Antwerp Gent Kapellen Stabroek Zwijndrecht Maldegem Lochristi Tournai Mons 29 Apr 30 1 May 2 3 4 5 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
Lochristi Lochristi, 29 April: 5.6 µg/m³ Lochristi, 30 April: 6.9 µg/m³ Lochristi, 1 May: 20.0 µg/m³ Lochristi, 2 May: 40.0 µg/m³, 4.1× its usual 9.7 Lochristi, 3 May: 8.9 µg/m³ Lochristi, 4 May: 5.4 µg/m³ Lochristi, 5 May: 9.4 µg/m³ Maldegem Maldegem, 29 April: 5.7 µg/m³ Maldegem, 30 April: 6.5 µg/m³ Maldegem, 1 May: 15.7 µg/m³ Maldegem, 2 May: 36.9 µg/m³, 4.0× its usual 9.3 Maldegem, 3 May: 8.4 µg/m³ Maldegem, 4 May: 4.1 µg/m³ Maldegem, 5 May: 10.3 µg/m³ Evergem Evergem, 29 April: 6.1 µg/m³ Evergem, 30 April: 8.5 µg/m³ Evergem, 1 May: 20.3 µg/m³ Evergem, 2 May: 36.9 µg/m³, 3.5× its usual 10.5 Evergem, 3 May: 7.7 µg/m³ Evergem, 4 May: 7.4 µg/m³ Evergem, 5 May: 9.2 µg/m³ Mons Mons, 29 April: 2.0 µg/m³ Mons, 30 April: 4.9 µg/m³ Mons, 1 May: 15.0 µg/m³ Mons, 2 May: 36.5 µg/m³, 5.0× its usual 7.3 Mons, 3 May: 4.2 µg/m³ Mons, 4 May: 3.7 µg/m³ Mons, 5 May: no reading Zwijndrecht Zwijndrecht, 29 April: 5.8 µg/m³ Zwijndrecht, 30 April: 5.8 µg/m³ Zwijndrecht, 1 May: 18.6 µg/m³ Zwijndrecht, 2 May: 36.2 µg/m³, 3.9× its usual 9.4 Zwijndrecht, 3 May: 10.4 µg/m³ Zwijndrecht, 4 May: 4.6 µg/m³ Zwijndrecht, 5 May: 10.6 µg/m³ Gent Gent, 29 April: 3.9 µg/m³ Gent, 30 April: 6.3 µg/m³ Gent, 1 May: 17.0 µg/m³ Gent, 2 May: 32.4 µg/m³, 3.6× its usual 9.0 Gent, 3 May: 7.1 µg/m³ Gent, 4 May: 4.4 µg/m³ Gent, 5 May: 6.6 µg/m³ Antwerp Antwerp, 29 April: 5.3 µg/m³ Antwerp, 30 April: 6.3 µg/m³ Antwerp, 1 May: 16.8 µg/m³ Antwerp, 2 May: 32.4 µg/m³, 3.6× its usual 9.0 Antwerp, 3 May: 7.9 µg/m³ Antwerp, 4 May: 4.8 µg/m³ Antwerp, 5 May: 10.9 µg/m³ Stabroek Stabroek, 29 April: 5.5 µg/m³ Stabroek, 30 April: 6.3 µg/m³ Stabroek, 1 May: 17.4 µg/m³ Stabroek, 2 May: 32.2 µg/m³, 3.8× its usual 8.5 Stabroek, 3 May: 9.4 µg/m³ Stabroek, 4 May: 4.7 µg/m³ Stabroek, 5 May: 11.2 µg/m³ Kapellen Kapellen, 29 April: 5.4 µg/m³ Kapellen, 30 April: 6.5 µg/m³ Kapellen, 1 May: 16.2 µg/m³ Kapellen, 2 May: 31.9 µg/m³, 3.8× its usual 8.5 Kapellen, 3 May: 10.9 µg/m³ Kapellen, 4 May: 5.1 µg/m³ Kapellen, 5 May: 12.7 µg/m³ Beveren Beveren, 29 April: 4.5 µg/m³ Beveren, 30 April: 6.2 µg/m³ Beveren, 1 May: 16.7 µg/m³ Beveren, 2 May: 31.1 µg/m³, 3.3× its usual 9.3 Beveren, 3 May: 7.8 µg/m³ Beveren, 4 May: 4.8 µg/m³ Beveren, 5 May: 10.0 µg/m³ Mol Mol, 29 April: 4.3 µg/m³ Mol, 30 April: 5.7 µg/m³ Mol, 1 May: 16.2 µg/m³ Mol, 2 May: 29.6 µg/m³, 3.6× its usual 8.2 Mol, 3 May: 8.1 µg/m³ Mol, 4 May: 4.8 µg/m³ Mol, 5 May: 9.2 µg/m³ Roeselare Roeselare, 29 April: 5.4 µg/m³ Roeselare, 30 April: 7.1 µg/m³ Roeselare, 1 May: 15.8 µg/m³ Roeselare, 2 May: 29.5 µg/m³, 2.7× its usual 11.0 Roeselare, 3 May: 6.1 µg/m³ Roeselare, 4 May: 5.3 µg/m³ Roeselare, 5 May: 6.7 µg/m³ Menen Menen, 29 April: 6.0 µg/m³ Menen, 30 April: 6.4 µg/m³ Menen, 1 May: 15.0 µg/m³ Menen, 2 May: 28.9 µg/m³, 2.8× its usual 10.3 Menen, 3 May: 6.0 µg/m³ Menen, 4 May: 4.6 µg/m³ Menen, 5 May: 7.3 µg/m³ Tournai Tournai, 29 April: 1.6 µg/m³ Tournai, 30 April: 3.6 µg/m³ Tournai, 1 May: 12.8 µg/m³ Tournai, 2 May: 28.4 µg/m³, 4.2× its usual 6.8 Tournai, 3 May: 2.2 µg/m³ Tournai, 4 May: 2.3 µg/m³ Tournai, 5 May: 4.1 µg/m³ Grimbergen Grimbergen, 29 April: 4.9 µg/m³ Grimbergen, 30 April: 5.6 µg/m³ Grimbergen, 1 May: 16.5 µg/m³ Grimbergen, 2 May: 28.4 µg/m³, 3.3× its usual 8.6 Grimbergen, 3 May: 6.8 µg/m³ Grimbergen, 4 May: 3.6 µg/m³ Grimbergen, 5 May: 8.1 µg/m³ Izegem Izegem, 29 April: 4.7 µg/m³ Izegem, 30 April: 6.1 µg/m³ Izegem, 1 May: 13.6 µg/m³ Izegem, 2 May: 28.0 µg/m³, 2.6× its usual 10.9 Izegem, 3 May: 7.2 µg/m³ Izegem, 4 May: 4.1 µg/m³ Izegem, 5 May: 6.8 µg/m³ Koksijde Koksijde, 29 April: 5.4 µg/m³ Koksijde, 30 April: 9.0 µg/m³ Koksijde, 1 May: 13.7 µg/m³ Koksijde, 2 May: 26.9 µg/m³, 2.9× its usual 9.4 Koksijde, 3 May: 4.6 µg/m³ Koksijde, 4 May: 5.1 µg/m³ Koksijde, 5 May: 5.8 µg/m³ Kortrijk Kortrijk, 29 April: 3.9 µg/m³ Kortrijk, 30 April: 6.0 µg/m³ Kortrijk, 1 May: 13.9 µg/m³ Kortrijk, 2 May: 26.6 µg/m³, 2.6× its usual 10.1 Kortrijk, 3 May: 5.4 µg/m³ Kortrijk, 4 May: 4.1 µg/m³ Kortrijk, 5 May: 6.3 µg/m³ 's-Gravenzande 's-Gravenzande, 29 April: 7.0 µg/m³ 's-Gravenzande, 30 April: 7.9 µg/m³ 's-Gravenzande, 1 May: 17.5 µg/m³ 's-Gravenzande, 2 May: 26.5 µg/m³, 3.3× its usual 8.0 's-Gravenzande, 3 May: 12.9 µg/m³ 's-Gravenzande, 4 May: 5.5 µg/m³ 's-Gravenzande, 5 May: 6.9 µg/m³ Brussels Brussels, 29 April: 4.4 µg/m³ Brussels, 30 April: 5.2 µg/m³ Brussels, 1 May: 15.1 µg/m³ Brussels, 2 May: 25.9 µg/m³, 3.1× its usual 8.3 Brussels, 3 May: 6.6 µg/m³ Brussels, 4 May: 4.2 µg/m³ Brussels, 5 May: 8.3 µg/m³ Northampton Northampton, 29 April: no reading Northampton, 30 April: no reading Northampton, 1 May: no reading Northampton, 2 May: 25.9 µg/m³, 2.8× its usual 9.1 Northampton, 3 May: 7.4 µg/m³ Northampton, 4 May: 7.4 µg/m³ Northampton, 5 May: no reading Zaventem Zaventem, 29 April: 4.1 µg/m³ Zaventem, 30 April: 4.9 µg/m³ Zaventem, 1 May: 15.0 µg/m³ Zaventem, 2 May: 25.5 µg/m³, 3.6× its usual 7.1 Zaventem, 3 May: 6.4 µg/m³ Zaventem, 4 May: 3.3 µg/m³ Zaventem, 5 May: 7.5 µg/m³ Mechelen Mechelen, 29 April: 4.9 µg/m³ Mechelen, 30 April: 5.1 µg/m³ Mechelen, 1 May: 14.5 µg/m³ Mechelen, 2 May: 25.2 µg/m³, 3.1× its usual 8.2 Mechelen, 3 May: 6.8 µg/m³ Mechelen, 4 May: 4.0 µg/m³ Mechelen, 5 May: 7.6 µg/m³ Willebroek Willebroek, 29 April: 4.1 µg/m³ Willebroek, 30 April: 5.1 µg/m³ Willebroek, 1 May: 14.6 µg/m³ Willebroek, 2 May: 25.0 µg/m³, 3.1× its usual 8.1 Willebroek, 3 May: 7.2 µg/m³ Willebroek, 4 May: 6.9 µg/m³ Willebroek, 5 May: 7.6 µg/m³ 29 Apr 30 1 May 2 3 4 5 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
Mons Wallonia, Belgium 1 2 May 7.3 5.0× Tournai Wallonia, Belgium 1 2 May 6.8 4.2× Lochristi Flanders, Belgium 1 2 May 9.7 4.1× Maldegem Flanders, Belgium 1 2 May 9.3 4.0× Zwijndrecht Flanders, Belgium 1 2 May 9.4 3.9× Stabroek Flanders, Belgium 1 2 May 8.5 3.8× Kapellen Flanders, Belgium 1 2 May 8.5 3.8× Gent Flanders, Belgium 1 2 May 9.0 3.6× Antwerp Flanders, Belgium 1 2 May 9.0 3.6× Mol Flanders, Belgium 1 2 May 8.2 3.6× Zaventem Flanders, Belgium 1 2 May 7.1 3.6× Evergem Flanders, Belgium 1 2 May 10.5 3.5× Beveren Flanders, Belgium 1 2 May 9.3 3.3× Grimbergen Flanders, Belgium 1 2 May 8.6 3.3× 's-Gravenzande South Holland, The Netherlands 1 2 May 8.0 3.3× Brussels Brussels Capital, Belgium 1 2 May 8.3 3.1× Mechelen Flanders, Belgium 1 2 May 8.2 3.1× Willebroek Flanders, Belgium 1 2 May 8.1 3.1× Koksijde Flanders, Belgium 1 2 May 9.4 2.9× Menen Flanders, Belgium 1 2 May 10.3 2.8× Northampton England, United Kingdom 1 2 May 9.1 2.8× Roeselare Flanders, Belgium 1 2 May 11.0 2.7× Izegem Flanders, Belgium 1 2 May 10.9 2.6× Kortrijk Flanders, Belgium 1 2 May 10.1 2.6×
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 Belgium and the United Kingdom
Number 10 of 24 episodes in Belgium and the United Kingdom since our records began, by cities reached.
Europe, 14 to 15 January 2025 90 Western Europe, December 2024 75 France, The Netherlands and United Kingdom, January 2023 66 Western Europe, January 2025 50 France, Belgium and 2 more countries, November and December 2023 43 United Kingdom, Belgium and 2 more countries, September 2023 42 Western Europe, November 2024 38 France, Belgium and Germany, April 2023 36 Belgium, Germany and 2 more countries, May 2023 26 Belgium, The Netherlands and United Kingdom, May 2024 24 Belgium, France and 2 more countries, August 2024 23 United Kingdom and The Netherlands, March 2024 20 Bars: cities reached; colour: the level of the episode's highest daily reading. All 24 .
Use this page SmogRank, Belgium, The Netherlands and United Kingdom, May 2024: 24 cities with PM2.5 at twice their usual or more, 2 May 2024, smogrank.com/episodes/2024-05-belgium-the-netherlands-and-united-kingdom (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.
