SmogRank / Episodes / Chile

Southern Chile, 18 to 22 May 2026

For 5 days, from 18 to 22 May 2026, 19 cities in Chile had PM2.5 at least twice their usual for the time of year. The worst reading was Hualpén, Biobio, Chile: 192.0 µg/m³ on 20 May, about 3.3× its usual 58.8.

No cause namedWe have no fire or smoke records for these days, so we only say what the measurements show.
Cities reached19in 1 country
Days518 to 22 May 2026
Worst day20 May15 cities counted
Furthest above usual3.8×Puerto Varas

Day by day

20 May 15 cities at twice their usual or more
VillarricaCoronelChiguayanteConcepciónToméSan CarlosLa UniónCuricóNacimientoCauquenesHualquiTalcaCuranilahueLotaPuerto MonttLos ÁngelesOsornoTemucoSan Pedro de la PazChillánHualpénLinaresTalcahuanoValdiviaPuerto Varas
15 May16171819202122232425
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

LinaresLinares, 15 May: 87.3 µg/m³Linares, 16 May: 61.8 µg/m³Linares, 17 May: 119.0 µg/m³Linares, 18 May: 156.0 µg/m³, 3.0× its usual 51.4Linares, 19 May: 169.0 µg/m³, 3.3× its usual 51.4Linares, 20 May: 174.0 µg/m³, 3.4× its usual 51.3Linares, 21 May: 78.5 µg/m³Linares, 22 May: 50.6 µg/m³Linares, 23 May: 71.0 µg/m³Linares, 24 May: 77.7 µg/m³Linares, 25 May: 124.0 µg/m³HualpénHualpén, 15 May: 38.0 µg/m³Hualpén, 16 May: 50.8 µg/m³Hualpén, 17 May: 69.5 µg/m³Hualpén, 18 May: 137.0 µg/m³, 2.3× its usual 58.8Hualpén, 19 May: no readingHualpén, 20 May: 192.0 µg/m³, 3.3× its usual 58.8Hualpén, 21 May: 50.5 µg/m³Hualpén, 22 May: 66.0 µg/m³Hualpén, 23 May: 62.9 µg/m³Hualpén, 24 May: 67.5 µg/m³Hualpén, 25 May: 89.0 µg/m³ChillánChillán, 15 May: 47.7 µg/m³Chillán, 16 May: 23.1 µg/m³Chillán, 17 May: 39.0 µg/m³Chillán, 18 May: 116.7 µg/m³, 2.7× its usual 43.2Chillán, 19 May: 134.1 µg/m³, 3.1× its usual 42.7Chillán, 20 May: 135.1 µg/m³, 3.2× its usual 42.6Chillán, 21 May: 93.8 µg/m³, 2.2× its usual 43.2Chillán, 22 May: 58.8 µg/m³Chillán, 23 May: 74.4 µg/m³Chillán, 24 May: 55.6 µg/m³Chillán, 25 May: 107.8 µg/m³TalcahuanoTalcahuano, 15 May: 32.4 µg/m³Talcahuano, 16 May: 35.6 µg/m³Talcahuano, 17 May: 47.3 µg/m³Talcahuano, 18 May: 106.8 µg/m³, 2.9× its usual 36.5Talcahuano, 19 May: 105.7 µg/m³, 3.0× its usual 35.7Talcahuano, 20 May: 130.0 µg/m³, 3.6× its usual 35.7Talcahuano, 21 May: 38.6 µg/m³Talcahuano, 22 May: 43.2 µg/m³Talcahuano, 23 May: 44.3 µg/m³Talcahuano, 24 May: 44.7 µg/m³Talcahuano, 25 May: 71.9 µg/m³TemucoTemuco, 15 May: 66.9 µg/m³Temuco, 16 May: 50.5 µg/m³Temuco, 17 May: 68.0 µg/m³Temuco, 18 May: 86.9 µg/m³Temuco, 19 May: 129.0 µg/m³, 3.0× its usual 43.7Temuco, 20 May: 111.0 µg/m³, 2.5× its usual 44.1Temuco, 21 May: 114.0 µg/m³, 2.5× its usual 46.5Temuco, 22 May: 60.5 µg/m³Temuco, 23 May: 53.4 µg/m³Temuco, 24 May: 53.2 µg/m³Temuco, 25 May: 74.1 µg/m³CuranilahueCuranilahue, 15 May: 27.5 µg/m³Curanilahue, 16 May: 19.8 µg/m³Curanilahue, 17 May: 44.3 µg/m³Curanilahue, 18 May: 71.0 µg/m³Curanilahue, 19 May: 106.0 µg/m³, 2.2× its usual 48.8Curanilahue, 20 May: 116.0 µg/m³, 2.4× its usual 48.8Curanilahue, 21 May: 70.4 µg/m³Curanilahue, 22 May: 54.8 µg/m³Curanilahue, 23 May: 53.6 µg/m³Curanilahue, 24 May: 53.2 µg/m³Curanilahue, 25 May: 72.8 µg/m³TalcaTalca, 15 May: 90.6 µg/m³Talca, 16 May: 39.3 µg/m³Talca, 17 May: 47.1 µg/m³Talca, 18 May: 67.1 µg/m³Talca, 19 May: 99.5 µg/m³, 2.4× its usual 40.7Talca, 20 May: 95.7 µg/m³, 2.3× its usual 41.2Talca, 21 May: 69.7 µg/m³Talca, 22 May: 57.0 µg/m³Talca, 23 May: 75.8 µg/m³Talca, 24 May: 62.9 µg/m³Talca, 25 May: 73.2 µg/m³Los ÁngelesLos Ángeles, 15 May: 27.6 µg/m³Los Ángeles, 16 May: 18.9 µg/m³Los Ángeles, 17 May: 23.6 µg/m³Los Ángeles, 18 May: 72.6 µg/m³Los Ángeles, 19 May: 94.7 µg/m³, 2.5× its usual 37.8Los Ángeles, 20 May: 107.1 µg/m³, 2.8× its usual 37.7Los Ángeles, 21 May: 111.4 µg/m³, 2.9× its usual 38.2Los Ángeles, 22 May: 61.4 µg/m³Los Ángeles, 23 May: 59.3 µg/m³Los Ángeles, 24 May: 60.9 µg/m³Los Ángeles, 25 May: 98.1 µg/m³LotaLota, 15 May: 37.5 µg/m³Lota, 16 May: 31.4 µg/m³Lota, 17 May: 36.0 µg/m³Lota, 18 May: 39.3 µg/m³Lota, 19 May: 42.8 µg/m³, 2.0× its usual 21.3Lota, 20 May: 58.5 µg/m³, 2.7× its usual 21.3Lota, 21 May: no readingLota, 22 May: no readingLota, 23 May: no readingLota, 24 May: no readingLota, 25 May: 29.5 µg/m³NacimientoNacimiento, 15 May: 64.7 µg/m³Nacimiento, 16 May: 22.8 µg/m³Nacimiento, 17 May: 32.9 µg/m³Nacimiento, 18 May: 113.1 µg/m³Nacimiento, 19 May: 137.3 µg/m³Nacimiento, 20 May: 153.4 µg/m³, 2.1× its usual 71.4Nacimiento, 21 May: 70.6 µg/m³Nacimiento, 22 May: 72.3 µg/m³Nacimiento, 23 May: 73.8 µg/m³Nacimiento, 24 May: 89.3 µg/m³Nacimiento, 25 May: 108.8 µg/m³CuricóCuricó, 15 May: 81.8 µg/m³Curicó, 16 May: 47.5 µg/m³Curicó, 17 May: 58.0 µg/m³Curicó, 18 May: 88.3 µg/m³Curicó, 19 May: 86.3 µg/m³Curicó, 20 May: 106.0 µg/m³, 2.1× its usual 51.0Curicó, 21 May: 66.5 µg/m³Curicó, 22 May: 56.7 µg/m³Curicó, 23 May: 93.7 µg/m³Curicó, 24 May: 92.4 µg/m³Curicó, 25 May: 96.8 µg/m³HualquiHualqui, 15 May: 87.8 µg/m³Hualqui, 16 May: 68.5 µg/m³Hualqui, 17 May: 67.2 µg/m³Hualqui, 18 May: 89.0 µg/m³Hualqui, 19 May: 87.3 µg/m³Hualqui, 20 May: 102.0 µg/m³, 2.3× its usual 44.1Hualqui, 21 May: 63.0 µg/m³Hualqui, 22 May: 84.1 µg/m³Hualqui, 23 May: 55.4 µg/m³Hualqui, 24 May: 81.6 µg/m³Hualqui, 25 May: 74.5 µg/m³San Pedro de la PazSan Pedro de la Paz, 15 May: 30.6 µg/m³San Pedro de la Paz, 16 May: 29.7 µg/m³San Pedro de la Paz, 17 May: 37.6 µg/m³San Pedro de la Paz, 18 May: 39.9 µg/m³San Pedro de la Paz, 19 May: 47.5 µg/m³San Pedro de la Paz, 20 May: 86.6 µg/m³, 3.2× its usual 27.1San Pedro de la Paz, 21 May: 33.6 µg/m³San Pedro de la Paz, 22 May: 37.9 µg/m³San Pedro de la Paz, 23 May: 38.2 µg/m³San Pedro de la Paz, 24 May: 49.4 µg/m³San Pedro de la Paz, 25 May: 53.1 µg/m³CauquenesCauquenes, 15 May: 38.9 µg/m³Cauquenes, 16 May: 23.0 µg/m³Cauquenes, 17 May: 31.3 µg/m³Cauquenes, 18 May: 40.3 µg/m³Cauquenes, 19 May: 63.0 µg/m³Cauquenes, 20 May: 80.6 µg/m³, 2.2× its usual 36.5Cauquenes, 21 May: 77.9 µg/m³, 2.1× its usual 36.7Cauquenes, 22 May: 55.3 µg/m³Cauquenes, 23 May: 48.6 µg/m³Cauquenes, 24 May: 62.4 µg/m³Cauquenes, 25 May: 59.7 µg/m³Puerto MonttPuerto Montt, 15 May: 17.3 µg/m³Puerto Montt, 16 May: 25.5 µg/m³Puerto Montt, 17 May: 22.8 µg/m³Puerto Montt, 18 May: 35.6 µg/m³Puerto Montt, 19 May: 25.6 µg/m³Puerto Montt, 20 May: 70.9 µg/m³, 2.1× its usual 33.9Puerto Montt, 21 May: 77.4 µg/m³, 2.3× its usual 34.1Puerto Montt, 22 May: 99.0 µg/m³, 2.9× its usual 34.1Puerto Montt, 23 May: 93.4 µg/m³Puerto Montt, 24 May: 28.8 µg/m³Puerto Montt, 25 May: 27.9 µg/m³Puerto VarasPuerto Varas, 15 May: 41.7 µg/m³Puerto Varas, 16 May: 45.6 µg/m³Puerto Varas, 17 May: 53.6 µg/m³Puerto Varas, 18 May: 52.3 µg/m³Puerto Varas, 19 May: 50.3 µg/m³Puerto Varas, 20 May: 69.2 µg/m³Puerto Varas, 21 May: 186.0 µg/m³, 3.8× its usual 48.4Puerto Varas, 22 May: 138.0 µg/m³, 2.7× its usual 50.2Puerto Varas, 23 May: 80.7 µg/m³Puerto Varas, 24 May: 29.5 µg/m³Puerto Varas, 25 May: 31.0 µg/m³ValdiviaValdivia, 15 May: 29.0 µg/m³Valdivia, 16 May: 57.9 µg/m³Valdivia, 17 May: 22.7 µg/m³Valdivia, 18 May: 23.7 µg/m³Valdivia, 19 May: 33.4 µg/m³Valdivia, 20 May: 68.8 µg/m³Valdivia, 21 May: 145.0 µg/m³, 3.7× its usual 39.1Valdivia, 22 May: 60.9 µg/m³Valdivia, 23 May: 64.0 µg/m³Valdivia, 24 May: 95.6 µg/m³Valdivia, 25 May: 96.7 µg/m³OsornoOsorno, 15 May: 28.8 µg/m³Osorno, 16 May: 40.1 µg/m³Osorno, 17 May: 60.2 µg/m³Osorno, 18 May: 91.1 µg/m³Osorno, 19 May: 42.8 µg/m³Osorno, 20 May: 100.9 µg/m³Osorno, 21 May: 112.8 µg/m³Osorno, 22 May: 182.0 µg/m³, 2.9× its usual 63.3Osorno, 23 May: 100.6 µg/m³Osorno, 24 May: 59.7 µg/m³Osorno, 25 May: 74.9 µg/m³La UniónLa Unión, 15 May: 27.9 µg/m³La Unión, 16 May: 40.2 µg/m³La Unión, 17 May: 35.9 µg/m³La Unión, 18 May: 85.4 µg/m³La Unión, 19 May: 52.5 µg/m³La Unión, 20 May: 83.7 µg/m³La Unión, 21 May: 37.0 µg/m³La Unión, 22 May: 93.8 µg/m³, 2.1× its usual 43.8La Unión, 23 May: 112.0 µg/m³La Unión, 24 May: 56.0 µg/m³La Unión, 25 May: 62.3 µg/m³15 May1719212325
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.
Good0–50
Moderate51–100
Sensitive groups101–150
Unhealthy151–200
Very unhealthy201–300
Hazardous301+

Every city it reached

CityDaysHighestUsualAbove usual
Puerto VarasLos Lagos Region, Chile2 186.021 May48.43.8×
ValdiviaLos Ríos Region, Chile1 145.021 May39.13.7×
TalcahuanoBiobio, Chile3 130.020 May35.73.6×
LinaresMaule Region, Chile3 174.020 May51.33.4×
HualpénBiobio, Chile2 192.020 May58.83.3×
ChillánÑuble, Chile4 135.120 May42.63.2×
San Pedro de la PazBiobio, Chile1 86.620 May27.13.2×
TemucoAraucania, Chile3 129.019 May43.73.0×
OsornoLos Lagos Region, Chile1 182.022 May63.32.9×
Los ÁngelesBiobio, Chile3 111.421 May38.22.9×
Puerto MonttLos Lagos Region, Chile3 99.022 May34.12.9×
LotaBiobio, Chile2 58.520 May21.32.7×
CuranilahueBiobio, Chile2 116.020 May48.82.4×
TalcaMaule Region, Chile2 99.519 May40.72.4×
HualquiBiobio, Chile1 102.020 May44.12.3×
CauquenesMaule Region, Chile2 80.620 May36.52.2×
NacimientoBiobio, Chile1 153.420 May71.42.1×
CuricóMaule Region, Chile1 106.020 May51.02.1×
La UniónLos Ríos Region, Chile1 93.822 May43.82.1×

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 Chile

Number 3 of 30 episodes in Chile since our records began, by cities reached.

Bars: cities reached; colour: the level of the episode's highest daily reading. All 30.

Use this page

SmogRank, Southern Chile, 18 to 22 May 2026: 19 cities with PM2.5 at twice their usual or more, 18 to 22 May 2026, smogrank.com/episodes/2026-05-18-southern-chile (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.