SmogRank / Episodes / United States
South-eastern United States, March 2026
For 3 days, from 19 to 21 March 2026, 17 cities in the United States had PM2.5 at least twice their usual for the time of year. The worst reading was Macon, Georgia, United States: 46.7 µg/m³ on 21 March, about 5.3× its usual 8.8.
No cause named We have no fire or smoke records for these days, so we only say what the measurements show.
Cities reached 17 in 1 country
Days 3 19 to 21 March 2026
Worst day 20 March 11 cities counted
Furthest above usual 5.5× Columbus
Day by day
Play 20 March 11 cities at twice their usual or more
Athens McDonough Greenville Atlanta Savannah Asheville Brunswick North Charleston Maryville Hickory Knoxville Jacksonville East Ridge Florence Chattanooga Ponte Vedra Beach Fruit Cove Lexington Montgomery Clemmons Conway Winston-Salem Trussville Cookeville Birmingham Greensboro Huntsville Hueytown Fayetteville Morrisville Durham Raleigh Columbia Clayton Hendersonville Nashville Midway Ferry Pass West Pensacola Spartanburg Gainesville Charlotte Candler-McAfee Warner Robins Lawrenceville Bessemer Valdosta Decatur Wake Forest Saint Andrews Albany Gadsden Tallahassee Augusta Macon Columbus 16 Mar 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 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
Tallahassee Tallahassee, 16 March: no reading Tallahassee, 17 March: 4.7 µg/m³, 0.6× usual Tallahassee, 18 March: 13.8 µg/m³, 1.6× usual Tallahassee, 19 March: 33.5 µg/m³, 3.9× usual Tallahassee, 20 March: 36.9 µg/m³, 4.3× usual Tallahassee, 21 March: 20.7 µg/m³, 2.4× usual Tallahassee, 22 March: 41.0 µg/m³, 4.8× usual Tallahassee, 23 March: 19.1 µg/m³, 2.2× usual Tallahassee, 24 March: 10.8 µg/m³, 1.3× usual Columbus Columbus, 16 March: 3.0 µg/m³, 0.4× usual Columbus, 17 March: 3.6 µg/m³, 0.4× usual Columbus, 18 March: 10.4 µg/m³, 1.3× usual Columbus, 19 March: 32.6 µg/m³, 3.9× usual Columbus, 20 March: 45.5 µg/m³, 5.5× usual Columbus, 21 March: 34.1 µg/m³, 4.1× usual Columbus, 22 March: 21.1 µg/m³, 2.5× usual Columbus, 23 March: 14.8 µg/m³, 1.8× usual Columbus, 24 March: 12.9 µg/m³, 1.6× usual Albany Albany, 16 March: 3.8 µg/m³, 0.4× usual Albany, 17 March: 4.3 µg/m³, 0.4× usual Albany, 18 March: 15.1 µg/m³, 1.5× usual Albany, 19 March: 31.9 µg/m³, 3.1× usual Albany, 20 March: 43.5 µg/m³, 4.2× usual Albany, 21 March: 35.3 µg/m³, 3.4× usual Albany, 22 March: 15.0 µg/m³, 1.4× usual Albany, 23 March: 13.3 µg/m³, 1.3× usual Albany, 24 March: 9.8 µg/m³, 0.9× usual Valdosta Valdosta, 16 March: 4.0 µg/m³, 0.5× usual Valdosta, 17 March: 9.0 µg/m³, 1.1× usual Valdosta, 18 March: 13.0 µg/m³, 1.6× usual Valdosta, 19 March: 28.7 µg/m³, 3.5× usual Valdosta, 20 March: 24.7 µg/m³, 3.0× usual Valdosta, 21 March: 30.3 µg/m³, 3.7× usual Valdosta, 22 March: 15.1 µg/m³, 1.8× usual Valdosta, 23 March: 19.2 µg/m³, 2.3× usual Valdosta, 24 March: 10.6 µg/m³, 1.3× usual Decatur Decatur, 16 March: 2.8 µg/m³, 0.4× usual Decatur, 17 March: 3.1 µg/m³, 0.4× usual Decatur, 18 March: 6.1 µg/m³, 0.9× usual Decatur, 19 March: 26.5 µg/m³, 3.8× usual Decatur, 20 March: 19.5 µg/m³, 2.8× usual Decatur, 21 March: 15.4 µg/m³, 2.2× usual Decatur, 22 March: 11.7 µg/m³, 1.7× usual Decatur, 23 March: 6.0 µg/m³, 0.9× usual Decatur, 24 March: 8.2 µg/m³, 1.2× usual Macon Macon, 16 March: 5.5 µg/m³, 0.6× usual Macon, 17 March: 4.1 µg/m³, 0.5× usual Macon, 18 March: 8.4 µg/m³, 1.0× usual Macon, 19 March: 24.3 µg/m³, 2.8× usual Macon, 20 March: 43.1 µg/m³, 4.9× usual Macon, 21 March: 46.7 µg/m³, 5.3× usual Macon, 22 March: 22.1 µg/m³, 2.5× usual Macon, 23 March: 12.7 µg/m³, 1.4× usual Macon, 24 March: 7.2 µg/m³, 0.8× usual Gadsden Gadsden, 16 March: 3.3 µg/m³, 0.4× usual Gadsden, 17 March: 3.3 µg/m³, 0.4× usual Gadsden, 18 March: 7.5 µg/m³, 0.9× usual Gadsden, 19 March: 16.5 µg/m³, 2.1× usual Gadsden, 20 March: 33.9 µg/m³, 4.3× usual Gadsden, 21 March: 22.9 µg/m³, 2.9× usual Gadsden, 22 March: 17.2 µg/m³, 2.2× usual Gadsden, 23 March: 9.5 µg/m³, 1.2× usual Gadsden, 24 March: 8.1 µg/m³, 1.0× usual Augusta Augusta, 16 March: 3.9 µg/m³, 0.5× usual Augusta, 17 March: 3.1 µg/m³, 0.4× usual Augusta, 18 March: 6.8 µg/m³, 0.8× usual Augusta, 19 March: 16.6 µg/m³, 2.0× usual Augusta, 20 March: 30.5 µg/m³, 3.7× usual Augusta, 21 March: 39.1 µg/m³, 4.7× usual Augusta, 22 March: 27.0 µg/m³, 3.3× usual Augusta, 23 March: 13.0 µg/m³, 1.6× usual Augusta, 24 March: 4.2 µg/m³, 0.5× usual Warner Robins Warner Robins, 16 March: 4.0 µg/m³, 0.5× usual Warner Robins, 17 March: 3.0 µg/m³, 0.4× usual Warner Robins, 18 March: 5.9 µg/m³, 0.7× usual Warner Robins, 19 March: 15.5 µg/m³, 1.8× usual Warner Robins, 20 March: 28.3 µg/m³, 3.4× usual Warner Robins, 21 March: 29.8 µg/m³, 3.5× usual Warner Robins, 22 March: 15.9 µg/m³, 1.9× usual Warner Robins, 23 March: 10.9 µg/m³, 1.3× usual Warner Robins, 24 March: 6.4 µg/m³, 0.8× usual Lawrenceville Lawrenceville, 16 March: 3.3 µg/m³, 0.4× usual Lawrenceville, 17 March: 3.1 µg/m³, 0.4× usual Lawrenceville, 18 March: 6.5 µg/m³, 0.8× usual Lawrenceville, 19 March: 14.3 µg/m³, 1.9× usual Lawrenceville, 20 March: 27.7 µg/m³, 3.6× usual Lawrenceville, 21 March: 19.9 µg/m³, 2.6× usual Lawrenceville, 22 March: 16.1 µg/m³, 2.1× usual Lawrenceville, 23 March: 10.5 µg/m³, 1.4× usual Lawrenceville, 24 March: 6.9 µg/m³, 0.9× usual Candler-McAfee Candler-McAfee, 16 March: 3.2 µg/m³, 0.4× usual Candler-McAfee, 17 March: 2.9 µg/m³, 0.4× usual Candler-McAfee, 18 March: 10.1 µg/m³, 1.3× usual Candler-McAfee, 19 March: 17.0 µg/m³, 2.2× usual Candler-McAfee, 20 March: 27.6 µg/m³, 3.5× usual Candler-McAfee, 21 March: 22.1 µg/m³, 2.8× usual Candler-McAfee, 22 March: 18.4 µg/m³, 2.4× usual Candler-McAfee, 23 March: 10.1 µg/m³, 1.3× usual Candler-McAfee, 24 March: 5.1 µg/m³, 0.7× usual Gainesville Gainesville, 16 March: 3.3 µg/m³, 0.4× usual Gainesville, 17 March: 2.9 µg/m³, 0.3× usual Gainesville, 18 March: 6.5 µg/m³, 0.8× usual Gainesville, 19 March: 17.2 µg/m³, 2.1× usual Gainesville, 20 March: 26.0 µg/m³, 3.1× usual Gainesville, 21 March: 18.3 µg/m³, 2.2× usual Gainesville, 22 March: 16.8 µg/m³, 2.0× usual Gainesville, 23 March: 10.1 µg/m³, 1.2× usual Gainesville, 24 March: 5.0 µg/m³, 0.6× usual Bessemer Bessemer, 16 March: 2.8 µg/m³, 0.4× usual Bessemer, 17 March: 3.1 µg/m³, 0.5× usual Bessemer, 18 March: 11.4 µg/m³, 1.7× usual Bessemer, 19 March: 21.2 µg/m³, 3.1× usual Bessemer, 20 March: 25.3 µg/m³, 3.7× usual Bessemer, 21 March: 15.4 µg/m³, 2.3× usual Bessemer, 22 March: 9.4 µg/m³, 1.4× usual Bessemer, 23 March: 7.8 µg/m³, 1.1× usual Bessemer, 24 March: 12.2 µg/m³, 1.8× usual Saint Andrews Saint Andrews, 16 March: 3.3 µg/m³, 0.5× usual Saint Andrews, 17 March: 3.2 µg/m³, 0.5× usual Saint Andrews, 18 March: 4.8 µg/m³, 0.7× usual Saint Andrews, 19 March: 9.0 µg/m³, 1.3× usual Saint Andrews, 20 March: 16.9 µg/m³, 2.4× usual Saint Andrews, 21 March: 30.0 µg/m³, 4.2× usual Saint Andrews, 22 March: 16.2 µg/m³, 2.3× usual Saint Andrews, 23 March: 16.1 µg/m³, 2.3× usual Saint Andrews, 24 March: 4.1 µg/m³, 0.6× usual Wake Forest Wake Forest, 16 March: 3.2 µg/m³, 0.4× usual Wake Forest, 17 March: 1.3 µg/m³, 0.2× usual Wake Forest, 18 March: 5.0 µg/m³, 0.7× usual Wake Forest, 19 March: 9.4 µg/m³, 1.3× usual Wake Forest, 20 March: 22.4 µg/m³, 3.1× usual Wake Forest, 21 March: 28.4 µg/m³, 3.9× usual Wake Forest, 22 March: 34.0 µg/m³, 4.7× usual Wake Forest, 23 March: 21.6 µg/m³, 3.0× usual Wake Forest, 24 March: 3.3 µg/m³, 0.5× usual Spartanburg Spartanburg, 16 March: 4.3 µg/m³, 0.5× usual Spartanburg, 17 March: 3.5 µg/m³, 0.4× usual Spartanburg, 18 March: 5.4 µg/m³, 0.6× usual Spartanburg, 19 March: 12.7 µg/m³, 1.5× usual Spartanburg, 20 March: 23.1 µg/m³, 2.7× usual Spartanburg, 21 March: 26.5 µg/m³, 3.1× usual Spartanburg, 22 March: 17.2 µg/m³, 2.0× usual Spartanburg, 23 March: 11.0 µg/m³, 1.3× usual Spartanburg, 24 March: 3.8 µg/m³, 0.4× usual Charlotte Charlotte, 16 March: 3.9 µg/m³, 0.5× usual Charlotte, 17 March: 3.9 µg/m³, 0.5× usual Charlotte, 18 March: 5.8 µg/m³, 0.8× usual Charlotte, 19 March: 11.4 µg/m³, 1.5× usual Charlotte, 20 March: 19.9 µg/m³, 2.7× usual Charlotte, 21 March: 25.3 µg/m³, 3.4× usual Charlotte, 22 March: 12.7 µg/m³, 1.7× usual Charlotte, 23 March: 12.4 µg/m³, 1.7× usual Charlotte, 24 March: 6.8 µg/m³, 0.9× usual 16 Mar 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 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
Columbus Georgia, United States 3 20 March 8.3 5.5× Macon Georgia, United States 2 21 March 8.8 5.3× Tallahassee Florida, United States 2 22 March 8.5 4.8× Augusta Georgia, United States 2 21 March 8.3 4.7× Wake Forest North Carolina, United States 1 22 March 7.3 4.7× Gadsden Alabama, United States 1 20 March 7.9 4.3× Saint Andrews South Carolina, United States 1 21 March 7.1 4.2× Albany Georgia, United States 3 20 March 10.4 4.2× Decatur Alabama, United States 1 19 March 7.0 3.8× Bessemer Alabama, United States 1 20 March 6.8 3.7× Valdosta Georgia, United States 2 21 March 8.3 3.7× Lawrenceville Georgia, United States 1 20 March 7.7 3.6× Warner Robins Georgia, United States 2 21 March 8.4 3.5× Candler-McAfee Georgia, United States 1 20 March 7.8 3.5× Charlotte North Carolina, United States 1 21 March 7.5 3.4× Gainesville Georgia, United States 1 20 March 8.3 3.1× Spartanburg South Carolina, United States 1 21 March 8.6 3.1×
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 the United States
Number 48 of 98 episodes in the United States since our records began, by cities reached.
North-eastern United States and Canada, June and July 2023 279 North-eastern United States and Canada, July 2026 264 North-eastern United States and Canada, May and June 2023 260 North-eastern United States and Canada, July and August 2025 241 North-eastern United States and Canada, July 2023 241 North-eastern United States and Canada, June 2025 196 North-eastern United States and Canada, June 2023 161 North-eastern United States and Canada, July 2025 119 North-western United States and Canada, August 2023 110 North-eastern United States, June 2025 104 North-western United States and Canada, August 2026 99 North-eastern United States and Canada, February 2026 96 South-eastern United States, March 2026 17 Bars: cities reached; colour: the level of the episode's highest daily reading. All 98 .
Use this page SmogRank, South-eastern United States, March 2026: 17 cities with PM2.5 at twice their usual or more, 19 to 21 March 2026, smogrank.com/episodes/2026-03-south-eastern-united-states (accessed 2 October 2026).
Copy citation Download top 10 (PNG)
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.
