Eastern Europe, 16 to 21 December 2025
For 6 days, from 16 to 21 December 2025, 129 cities in Poland, Romania, Hungary and 14 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: 298.0 µg/m³ on 18 December, about 5.5× its usual 54.2. Ended 21 December.
Day by day
How it spread
Every city it reached
| City | Days | Highest | Above usual |
|---|---|---|---|
| LivnoFederation of B&H, Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1 | 116.016 December | 6.9× |
| TravnikFederation of B&H, Bosnia and Herzegovina | 4 | 229.017 December | 6.8× |
| Banja LukaSrpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina | 3 | 298.018 December | 5.5× |
| CraiovaDolj, Romania | 2 | 83.819 December | 5.5× |
| ŻywiecSilesia, Poland | 5 | 125.021 December | 5.1× |
| SarajevoFederation of B&H, Bosnia and Herzegovina | 4 | 216.016 December | 4.9× |
| Jelenia GóraLower Silesia, Poland | 5 | 74.120 December | 4.9× |
| KumanovoKumanovo, North Macedonia | 5 | 125.018 December | 4.5× |
| JarosławSubcarpathia, Poland | 5 | 69.119 December | 4.5× |
| TarnówLesser Poland, Poland | 3 | 64.420 December | 4.3× |
| Gorzów WielkopolskiLubusz, Poland | 4 | 63.818 December | 4.3× |
| SofiaSofia-Capital, Bulgaria | 4 | 43.419 December | 4.1× |
| Cluj-NapocaCluj County, Romania | 6 | 79.518 December | 4.0× |
| KłodzkoLower Silesia, Poland | 2 | 69.521 December | 4.0× |
| SuwałkiPodlasie, Poland | 1 | 35.617 December | 4.0× |
| BelgradeCentral Serbia, Serbia | 4 | 109.018 December | 3.9× |
| DimitrovgradHaskovo, Bulgaria | 4 | 63.118 December | 3.8× |
| CalafatDolj, Romania | 2 | 51.719 December | 3.8× |
| VoluntariIlfov, Romania | 2 | 60.919 December | 3.7× |
| PołaniecŚwiętokrzyskie, Poland | 2 | 71.019 December | 3.6× |
| PrzemyślSubcarpathia, Poland | 5 | 59.320 December | 3.6× |
| BufteaIlfov, Romania | 2 | 56.119 December | 3.6× |
| ZeitzSaxony-Anhalt, Germany | 1 | 26.121 December | 3.6× |
| NiskoSubcarpathia, Poland | 5 | 70.619 December | 3.5× |
| JilavaIlfov, Romania | 2 | 48.019 December | 3.5× |
| PljevljaPljevlja, Montenegro | 3 | 155.017 December | 3.4× |
| GostivarGostivar, North Macedonia | 3 | 121.018 December | 3.4× |
| NyíregyházaSzabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg, Hungary | 3 | 62.518 December | 3.4× |
| RuseRuse, Bulgaria | 1 | 54.419 December | 3.4× |
| WrocławLower Silesia, Poland | 5 | 52.920 December | 3.4× |
| HolbocaIași County, Romania | 1 | 51.116 December | 3.4× |
| OtopeniIlfov, Romania | 2 | 50.519 December | 3.4× |
| JasłoSubcarpathia, Poland | 1 | 45.321 December | 3.4× |
| Târgu MureşMureș County, Romania | 5 | 130.018 December | 3.3× |
| PodgoricaPodgorica, Montenegro | 5 | 119.016 December | 3.3× |
| CodleaBrașov County, Romania | 2 | 95.917 December | 3.3× |
| BragadiruIlfov, Romania | 2 | 57.719 December | 3.3× |
| TrebišovKošice Region, Slovakia | 2 | 55.219 December | 3.3× |
| Popeşti-LeordeniIlfov, Romania | 2 | 47.819 December | 3.3× |
| KrakówLesser Poland, Poland | 2 | 69.919 December | 3.2× |
| IaşiIași County, Romania | 2 | 50.816 December | 3.2× |
| GdyniaPomerania, Poland | 3 | 37.017 December | 3.2× |
| VarnaVarna, Bulgaria | 4 | 33.320 December | 3.2× |
| StrumicaStrumica, North Macedonia | 5 | 128.018 December | 3.1× |
| RzeszówSubcarpathia, Poland | 4 | 53.720 December | 3.1× |
| Vranov nad TopľouPrešov Region, Slovakia | 1 | 48.119 December | 3.1× |
| BucharestBucharest, Romania | 2 | 45.819 December | 3.1× |
| Bijelo PoljeBijelo Polje, Montenegro | 2 | 146.017 December | 3.0× |
| KomárnoNitra Region, Slovakia | 1 | 44.619 December | 3.0× |
| BardejovPrešov Region, Slovakia | 3 | 42.218 December | 3.0× |
| ŻaryLubusz, Poland | 3 | 38.221 December | 3.0× |
| CernicaIlfov, Romania | 1 | 31.719 December | 3.0× |
| Czechowice-DziedziceSilesia, Poland | 4 | 62.819 December | 2.9× |
| KaliszGreater Poland, Poland | 4 | 58.520 December | 2.9× |
| KošiceKošice Region, Slovakia | 4 | 49.618 December | 2.9× |
| GdańskPomerania, Poland | 2 | 32.019 December | 2.9× |
| SzczytnaLower Silesia, Poland | 1 | 32.021 December | 2.9× |
| MontbéliardBourgogne-Franche-Comté, France | 1 | 31.820 December | 2.9× |
| BitolaBitola, North Macedonia | 3 | 117.020 December | 2.8× |
| KielceŚwiętokrzyskie, Poland | 1 | 55.019 December | 2.8× |
| HaskovoHaskovo, Bulgaria | 1 | 54.918 December | 2.8× |
| SzegedCsongrád, Hungary | 4 | 41.419 December | 2.8× |
| SpeyerRheinland-Pfalz, Germany | 1 | 28.120 December | 2.8× |
| VelesVeles, North Macedonia | 5 | 112.017 December | 2.7× |
| IlindenIlinden, North Macedonia | 4 | 96.918 December | 2.7× |
| PoznańGreater Poland, Poland | 3 | 47.217 December | 2.7× |
| WschowaLubusz, Poland | 3 | 42.117 December | 2.7× |
| DunaújvárosFejér, Hungary | 1 | 38.319 December | 2.7× |
| BrzegOpole Voivodeship, Poland | 5 | 36.120 December | 2.7× |
| Bad KreuznachRheinland-Pfalz, Germany | 1 | 26.420 December | 2.7× |
| KołobrzegWest Pomerania, Poland | 1 | 26.017 December | 2.7× |
| SkopjeGrad Skopje, North Macedonia | 4 | 131.019 December | 2.6× |
| OhridOhrid, North Macedonia | 4 | 82.518 December | 2.6× |
| StarachowiceŚwiętokrzyskie, Poland | 3 | 50.220 December | 2.6× |
| EsztergomKomárom-Esztergom, Hungary | 3 | 43.419 December | 2.6× |
| BudapestBudapest, Hungary | 1 | 40.819 December | 2.6× |
| PécsBaranya, Hungary | 3 | 39.417 December | 2.6× |
| GyálPest County, Hungary | 3 | 38.919 December | 2.6× |
| PiraeusAttica, Greece | 1 | 34.419 December | 2.6× |
| EłkWarmia-Masuria, Poland | 1 | 32.317 December | 2.6× |
| TetovoTetovo, North Macedonia | 2 | 156.017 December | 2.5× |
| Bielsko-BialaSilesia, Poland | 1 | 57.821 December | 2.5× |
| SevlievoGabrovo, Bulgaria | 2 | 45.718 December | 2.5× |
| BihaćFederation of B&H, Bosnia and Herzegovina | 2 | 45.217 December | 2.5× |
| BydgoszczKujawsko-Pomorskie, Poland | 1 | 35.319 December | 2.5× |
| Hradec KrálovéHradec Králové Region, Czechia | 1 | 31.821 December | 2.5× |
| DebrecenHajdú-Bihar, Hungary | 2 | 96.717 December | 2.4× |
| Skarżysko-KamiennaŚwiętokrzyskie, Poland | 3 | 66.716 December | 2.4× |
| DębicaSubcarpathia, Poland | 3 | 47.718 December | 2.4× |
| RadomskoŁódź Voivodeship, Poland | 3 | 47.018 December | 2.4× |
| AcharnésAttica, Greece | 1 | 43.019 December | 2.4× |
| MielecSubcarpathia, Poland | 4 | 38.920 December | 2.4× |
| ZamośćLublin, Poland | 1 | 38.820 December | 2.4× |
| GyőrGyőr-Moson-Sopron, Hungary | 2 | 37.219 December | 2.4× |
| PardubicePardubice Region, Czechia | 1 | 30.121 December | 2.4× |
| SzczecinWest Pomerania, Poland | 1 | 30.017 December | 2.4× |
| LiepājaLiepaja, Latvia | 1 | 28.517 December | 2.4× |
| SereďTrnava Region, Slovakia | 1 | 28.020 December | 2.4× |
| DejCluj County, Romania | 1 | 82.417 December | 2.3× |
| OpoleOpole Voivodeship, Poland | 2 | 55.521 December | 2.3× |
| KutnoŁódź Voivodeship, Poland | 2 | 52.217 December | 2.3× |
| AugustówPodlasie, Poland | 1 | 50.017 December | 2.3× |
| KranjUrban Municipality of Kranj, Slovenia | 2 | 46.416 December | 2.3× |
| Kędzierzyn-KoźleOpole Voivodeship, Poland | 1 | 42.821 December | 2.3× |
| BiałystokPodlasie, Poland | 1 | 35.218 December | 2.3× |
| AnnemasseAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France | 1 | 25.920 December | 2.3× |
| VeszprémVeszprém, Hungary | 1 | 25.418 December | 2.3× |
| MiskolcBorsod-Abaúj-Zemplén, Hungary | 1 | 55.419 December | 2.2× |
| WłocławekKujawsko-Pomorskie, Poland | 2 | 49.220 December | 2.2× |
| GevgelijaGevgelija, North Macedonia | 1 | 47.617 December | 2.2× |
| ŁódźŁódź Voivodeship, Poland | 1 | 43.819 December | 2.2× |
| LjubljanaLjubljana, Slovenia | 2 | 39.317 December | 2.2× |
| PłockMazovia, Poland | 1 | 36.817 December | 2.2× |
| ToruńKujawsko-Pomorskie, Poland | 2 | 34.719 December | 2.2× |
| Chorvátsky Grob - Čierna VodaBratislava Region, Slovakia | 1 | 32.417 December | 2.2× |
| MalackyBratislava Region, Slovakia | 1 | 28.917 December | 2.2× |
| ZagrebZagreb, Croatia | 1 | 84.619 December | 2.1× |
| ČaňaKošice Region, Slovakia | 2 | 47.218 December | 2.1× |
| ŘíčanyCentral Bohemia, Czechia | 1 | 40.519 December | 2.1× |
| OlsztynWarmia-Masuria, Poland | 1 | 33.417 December | 2.1× |
| NitraNitra Region, Slovakia | 1 | 30.719 December | 2.1× |
| SenicaTrnava Region, Slovakia | 2 | 28.817 December | 2.1× |
| ŽideniceSouth Moravian, Czechia | 1 | 28.817 December | 2.1× |
| SlatinaSouth Moravian, Czechia | 1 | 28.817 December | 2.1× |
| ThessaloníkiCentral Macedonia, Greece | 1 | 55.819 December | 2.0× |
| RadomMazovia, Poland | 2 | 41.516 December | 2.0× |
| WarsawMazovia, Poland | 1 | 34.417 December | 2.0× |
| WinterthurZurich, Switzerland | 1 | 34.420 December | 2.0× |
| ElblągWarmia-Masuria, Poland | 1 | 32.417 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 Poland and Romania
Number 2 of 45 episodes in Poland and Romania since our records began, by cities reached.
- Eastern Europe, October and November 2024161
- Eastern Europe, 16 to 21 December 2025129
- Eastern Europe, January 202686
- Europe, 8 to 10 November 202584
- Germany, Poland and Czechia, February 202667
- Eastern Europe, 3 to 7 December 202564
- Europe, 17 to 22 March 202364
- Eastern Europe, 30 November to 8 December 202461
- Eastern and northern Europe, September 202358
- Europe, 28 to 31 January 202453
- Poland, September 202452
- Poland, January 202646
Bars: cities reached; colour: the level of the episode's highest daily reading. All 45.
Use this page
SmogRank, Eastern Europe, 16 to 21 December 2025: 129 cities with PM2.5 at twice their usual or more, 16 to 21 December 2025, smogrank.com/episodes/2025-12-16-eastern-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.