Central Europe, December 2025 to January 2026
For 9 days, from 25 December 2025 to 2 January 2026, 170 cities in Germany, France, Poland and 7 more countries had PM2.5 at least twice their usual for the time of year. The worst reading was Kempten (Allgäu), Bavaria, Germany: 110.0 µg/m³ on 1 January, about 9.9× its usual 11.1.
Day by day
How it spread
Every city it reached
| City | Days | Highest | Above usual |
|---|---|---|---|
| NeuwiedRheinland-Pfalz, Germany | 3 | 94.31 January | 11× |
| Kempten (Allgäu)Bavaria, Germany | 1 | 110.01 January | 9.9× |
| ZürichZurich, Switzerland | 1 | 69.41 January | 7.5× |
| WeißenfelsSaxony-Anhalt, Germany | 3 | 39.426 December | 6.7× |
| MunichBavaria, Germany | 1 | 59.61 January | 6.5× |
| Gorzów WielkopolskiLubusz, Poland | 3 | 95.226 December | 6.2× |
| OlivetCentre-Val de Loire, France | 1 | 40.31 January | 6.2× |
| ReutlingenBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany | 3 | 60.21 January | 6.1× |
| MüllheimBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany | 2 | 43.11 January | 6.0× |
| BéthuneHauts-de-France, France | 4 | 41.129 December | 6.0× |
| Saint HelierSt Helier, Jersey | 2 | 27.526 December | 5.5× |
| HalberstadtSaxony-Anhalt, Germany | 1 | 34.026 December | 5.4× |
| Neu-UlmBavaria, Germany | 1 | 57.31 January | 5.3× |
| LiègeWallonia, Belgium | 1 | 28.829 December | 5.2× |
| LindauBavaria, Germany | 1 | 60.61 January | 5.2× |
| ZeitzSaxony-Anhalt, Germany | 2 | 40.226 December | 5.2× |
| LörrachBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany | 2 | 52.51 January | 5.1× |
| MerseburgSaxony-Anhalt, Germany | 2 | 44.626 December | 4.8× |
| OrléansCentre-Val de Loire, France | 2 | 40.21 January | 4.8× |
| MontargisCentre-Val de Loire, France | 1 | 30.11 January | 4.8× |
| HildesheimLower Saxony, Germany | 1 | 30.526 December | 4.8× |
| TübingenBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany | 4 | 56.11 January | 4.6× |
| BraunschweigLower Saxony, Germany | 2 | 30.926 December | 4.5× |
| Halle (Saale)Saxony-Anhalt, Germany | 1 | 37.626 December | 4.5× |
| Burg bei MagdeburgSaxony-Anhalt, Germany | 1 | 26.226 December | 4.4× |
| MagdeburgSaxony-Anhalt, Germany | 1 | 36.526 December | 4.4× |
| SalzgitterLower Saxony, Germany | 1 | 26.026 December | 4.3× |
| GroningenGroningen, The Netherlands | 1 | 29.91 January | 4.3× |
| RennesBrittany, France | 2 | 37.11 January | 4.3× |
| FreiburgBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany | 2 | 28.928 December | 4.3× |
| GeraThuringia, Germany | 1 | 29.326 December | 4.3× |
| MonsWallonia, Belgium | 1 | 30.731 December | 4.3× |
| Villingen-SchwenningenBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany | 1 | 34.01 January | 4.3× |
| GöttingenLower Saxony, Germany | 2 | 26.027 December | 4.2× |
| Bitterfeld-WolfenSaxony-Anhalt, Germany | 2 | 35.126 December | 4.1× |
| ErfurtThuringia, Germany | 1 | 25.626 December | 4.1× |
| RintelnLower Saxony, Germany | 1 | 26.027 December | 4.1× |
| KöthenSaxony-Anhalt, Germany | 2 | 27.426 December | 4.1× |
| WittenbergSaxony-Anhalt, Germany | 2 | 41.726 December | 4.1× |
| FriedrichshafenBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany | 1 | 45.31 January | 4.1× |
| BernburgSaxony-Anhalt, Germany | 3 | 40.726 December | 4.1× |
| Königs WusterhausenBrandenburg, Germany | 1 | 31.826 December | 4.0× |
| ReimsGrand Est, France | 2 | 31.027 December | 4.0× |
| Blankenfelde-MahlowBrandenburg, Germany | 1 | 33.326 December | 4.0× |
| Baden-BadenBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany | 1 | 32.91 January | 4.0× |
| Jelenia GóraLower Silesia, Poland | 2 | 62.026 December | 3.9× |
| WeimarThuringia, Germany | 1 | 26.726 December | 3.9× |
| LubnjowBrandenburg, Germany | 1 | 26.026 December | 3.8× |
| AugsburgBavaria, Germany | 1 | 34.71 January | 3.8× |
| BielefeldNorth Rhine-Westphalia, Germany | 2 | 26.126 December | 3.8× |
| UlmBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany | 1 | 41.91 January | 3.8× |
| WolfsburgLower Saxony, Germany | 1 | 26.826 December | 3.8× |
| HannoverLower Saxony, Germany | 2 | 26.226 December | 3.7× |
| PotsdamBrandenburg, Germany | 1 | 28.026 December | 3.7× |
| UtrechtUtrecht, The Netherlands | 1 | 35.41 January | 3.7× |
| NordhausenThuringia, Germany | 1 | 25.326 December | 3.7× |
| DreuxCentre-Val de Loire, France | 1 | 27.827 December | 3.7× |
| Brandenburg an der HavelBrandenburg, Germany | 1 | 28.026 December | 3.6× |
| ÉpinalGrand Est, France | 4 | 32.029 December | 3.6× |
| KłodzkoLower Silesia, Poland | 2 | 70.827 December | 3.6× |
| DessauSaxony-Anhalt, Germany | 2 | 35.526 December | 3.6× |
| JenaThuringia, Germany | 1 | 25.326 December | 3.6× |
| ÉvreuxNormandy, France | 1 | 29.627 December | 3.6× |
| Biberach an der RißBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany | 1 | 33.21 January | 3.6× |
| EnschedeOverijssel, The Netherlands | 1 | 31.931 December | 3.6× |
| ChartresCentre-Val de Loire, France | 3 | 29.81 January | 3.5× |
| MeyzieuAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France | 2 | 39.91 January | 3.5× |
| AltenburgThuringia, Germany | 1 | 25.526 December | 3.5× |
| KölnNorth Rhine-Westphalia, Germany | 1 | 25.327 December | 3.5× |
| LilleHauts-de-France, France | 1 | 27.726 December | 3.5× |
| LuckenwaldeBrandenburg, Germany | 1 | 31.726 December | 3.4× |
| AuxerreBourgogne-Franche-Comté, France | 2 | 27.228 December | 3.4× |
| StrasbourgGrand Est, France | 4 | 45.71 January | 3.4× |
| AmiensHauts-de-France, France | 3 | 29.227 December | 3.4× |
| Joué-lès-ToursCentre-Val de Loire, France | 1 | 27.84 January | 3.4× |
| Hradec KrálovéHradec Králové Region, Czechia | 1 | 39.826 December | 3.4× |
| LiberecLiberec Region, Czechia | 1 | 33.626 December | 3.4× |
| NurembergBavaria, Germany | 1 | 31.11 January | 3.4× |
| CalaisHauts-de-France, France | 2 | 27.626 December | 3.4× |
| ŻaryLubusz, Poland | 3 | 42.926 December | 3.4× |
| RambouilletÎle-de-France, France | 3 | 29.627 December | 3.4× |
| CottbusBrandenburg, Germany | 1 | 27.726 December | 3.4× |
| BiałystokPodlasie, Poland | 1 | 53.71 January | 3.4× |
| Frankfurt (Oder)Brandenburg, Germany | 1 | 26.926 December | 3.4× |
| PraguePrague, Czechia | 1 | 35.026 December | 3.3× |
| PardubicePardubice Region, Czechia | 1 | 36.926 December | 3.3× |
| BernBern, Switzerland | 1 | 34.21 January | 3.3× |
| EisenhüttenstadtBrandenburg, Germany | 1 | 26.526 December | 3.3× |
| BourgesCentre-Val de Loire, France | 1 | 26.127 December | 3.3× |
| PoznańGreater Poland, Poland | 2 | 54.826 December | 3.3× |
| HerrenbergBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany | 1 | 29.01 January | 3.3× |
| The HagueSouth Holland, The Netherlands | 1 | 29.31 January | 3.3× |
| WernigerodeSaxony-Anhalt, Germany | 1 | 25.926 December | 3.3× |
| KehlBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany | 3 | 36.11 January | 3.3× |
| Saint-ÉtienneAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France | 1 | 26.71 January | 3.2× |
| Le HavreNormandy, France | 2 | 28.327 December | 3.2× |
| Boulogne-sur-MerHauts-de-France, France | 1 | 27.326 December | 3.2× |
| IngolstadtBavaria, Germany | 1 | 40.81 January | 3.2× |
| DenainHauts-de-France, France | 1 | 28.526 December | 3.2× |
| EindhovenNorth Brabant, The Netherlands | 1 | 36.71 January | 3.2× |
| NeuenhagenBrandenburg, Germany | 1 | 25.626 December | 3.2× |
| MühlhausenThuringia, Germany | 1 | 25.826 December | 3.1× |
| DortmundNorth Rhine-Westphalia, Germany | 1 | 25.727 December | 3.1× |
| CoulommiersÎle-de-France, France | 5 | 35.61 January | 3.1× |
| GreizThuringia, Germany | 2 | 26.526 December | 3.1× |
| RadomskoŁódź Voivodeship, Poland | 1 | 70.15 January | 3.1× |
| AlbertvilleAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France | 5 | 35.230 December | 3.1× |
| ValenciennesHauts-de-France, France | 1 | 25.926 December | 3.1× |
| Zielona GóraLubusz, Poland | 2 | 28.626 December | 3.1× |
| DouaiHauts-de-France, France | 1 | 29.226 December | 3.0× |
| GrazStyria, Austria | 1 | 68.51 January | 3.0× |
| MarignaneProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France | 2 | 32.631 December | 3.0× |
| SchwerinMecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany | 1 | 26.01 January | 3.0× |
| UnnaNorth Rhine-Westphalia, Germany | 1 | 25.927 December | 3.0× |
| VannesBrittany, France | 1 | 27.34 January | 2.9× |
| HagenNorth Rhine-Westphalia, Germany | 2 | 25.827 December | 2.9× |
| NijmegenGelderland, The Netherlands | 1 | 27.41 January | 2.9× |
| NeversBourgogne-Franche-Comté, France | 1 | 26.227 December | 2.9× |
| BarneveldGelderland, The Netherlands | 1 | 25.91 January | 2.9× |
| MoulinsAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France | 1 | 26.11 January | 2.9× |
| RouenNormandy, France | 3 | 29.44 January | 2.9× |
| StendalSaxony-Anhalt, Germany | 1 | 30.226 December | 2.8× |
| Bourg-en-BresseAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France | 1 | 25.62 January | 2.8× |
| DattelnNorth Rhine-Westphalia, Germany | 1 | 25.127 December | 2.8× |
| KasselHesse, Germany | 1 | 26.027 December | 2.8× |
| LyonAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France | 4 | 36.72 January | 2.7× |
| SulechówLubusz, Poland | 1 | 35.622 December | 2.7× |
| BaselBasel-City, Switzerland | 2 | 32.81 January | 2.7× |
| ŘíčanyCentral Bohemia, Czechia | 1 | 58.426 December | 2.7× |
| SpeyerRheinland-Pfalz, Germany | 1 | 31.21 January | 2.7× |
| InnsbruckTyrol, Austria | 1 | 35.71 January | 2.7× |
| MarseilleProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France | 1 | 26.031 December | 2.7× |
| StuttgartBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany | 1 | 30.51 January | 2.7× |
| MalackyBratislava Region, Slovakia | 2 | 33.626 December | 2.6× |
| ŻywiecSilesia, Poland | 1 | 74.65 January | 2.6× |
| BerlinState of Berlin, Germany | 2 | 30.026 December | 2.6× |
| TarnówLesser Poland, Poland | 1 | 41.826 December | 2.6× |
| TeltowBrandenburg, Germany | 2 | 31.926 December | 2.6× |
| SzczecinWest Pomerania, Poland | 2 | 31.225 December | 2.5× |
| BensheimHesse, Germany | 1 | 27.81 January | 2.5× |
| ParisÎle-de-France, France | 1 | 26.227 December | 2.5× |
| GrenobleAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France | 3 | 37.92 January | 2.5× |
| VillefontaineAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France | 2 | 34.81 January | 2.5× |
| BydgoszczKujawsko-Pomorskie, Poland | 2 | 33.626 December | 2.5× |
| DunkirkHauts-de-France, France | 1 | 25.329 December | 2.5× |
| MannheimBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany | 1 | 29.31 January | 2.4× |
| OlpeNorth Rhine-Westphalia, Germany | 1 | 30.231 December | 2.4× |
| WolfsbergCarinthia, Austria | 1 | 49.01 January | 2.4× |
| NîmesOccitanie, France | 1 | 29.629 December | 2.4× |
| HaarlemNorth Holland, The Netherlands | 1 | 39.022 December | 2.4× |
| StodůlkyPrague, Czechia | 2 | 70.026 December | 2.4× |
| BellinzonaTicino, Switzerland | 2 | 35.731 December | 2.3× |
| KaliszGreater Poland, Poland | 1 | 47.126 December | 2.3× |
| OtwockMazovia, Poland | 1 | 56.125 December | 2.3× |
| Frankfurt am MainHesse, Germany | 1 | 25.21 January | 2.3× |
| Klagenfurt am WörtherseeCarinthia, Austria | 1 | 37.41 January | 2.1× |
| WawerMazovia, Poland | 1 | 37.625 December | 2.1× |
| ChambéryAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France | 2 | 27.929 December | 2.1× |
| Kędzierzyn-KoźleOpole Voivodeship, Poland | 1 | 38.45 January | 2.1× |
| MulhouseGrand Est, France | 2 | 30.41 January | 2.1× |
| ŻyrardówMazovia, Poland | 2 | 38.125 December | 2.1× |
| AnnemasseAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France | 2 | 25.829 December | 2.1× |
| KutnoŁódź Voivodeship, Poland | 1 | 46.026 December | 2.1× |
| ŁaskŁódź Voivodeship, Poland | 1 | 49.226 December | 2.1× |
| PassauBavaria, Germany | 1 | 25.61 January | 2.0× |
| Romans-sur-IsèreAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France | 1 | 34.61 January | 2.0× |
| ŽideniceSouth Moravian, Czechia | 1 | 27.926 December | 2.0× |
| WarsawMazovia, Poland | 1 | 34.026 December | 2.0× |
| ValenceAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France | 1 | 26.129 December | 2.0× |
| PłockMazovia, Poland | 1 | 29.826 December | 2.0× |
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 Germany and France
Number 11 of 42 episodes in Germany and France since our records began, by cities reached.
- Central Europe, February 2023604
- Central Europe, February and March 2025513
- Central Europe, February 2025503
- Central Europe, January and February 2026498
- Central Europe, March 2025458
- Central Europe, March 2026442
- Central Europe, January 2025383
- Central Europe, March 2026361
- Central Europe, March 2025333
- Central Europe, February and March 2023274
- Central Europe, December 2025 to January 2026170
- Eastern Europe, January 2025123
Bars: cities reached; colour: the level of the episode's highest daily reading. All 42.
Use this page
SmogRank, Central Europe, December 2025 to January 2026: 170 cities with PM2.5 at twice their usual or more, 25 December 2025 to 2 January 2026, smogrank.com/episodes/2025-12-central-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.