SmogRank / Episodes / Germany
Germany, Belgium and 2 more countries, August 2026
For 3 days, from 15 to 17 August 2026, 27 cities in Germany, France, Belgium and 1 more countries had PM2.5 at least twice their usual for the time of year. The worst reading was Vielsalm, Wallonia, Belgium: 76.4 µg/m³ on 16 August, about 15× its usual 2.2. Ended 17 August.
Likely smoke from fires Fires were detected within 300 km of the city on 47% of the counted city-days. Satellites see crop, field and forest fires alike, so this doesn't say which burned.
Cities reached 27 in 4 countries
Days 3 15 to 17 August 2026
Worst day 17 August 17 cities counted
Furthest above usual 15× Vielsalm
Day by day
Play 17 August 17 cities at twice their usual or more
Waldfischbach-Burgalben Kaiserslautern Bad Kreuznach Épinal Koblenz Neuwied Bendorf Höhr-Grenzhausen Bonn Roetgen Worms Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen Eupen Mainz Speyer Karlsruhe Wiesbaden Ludwigshafen am Rhein Limburg an der Lahn Mannheim Niederzier Köln Lampertheim Mulhouse Aachen Freiburg Neuenburg am Rhein Jülich Pulheim Rüsselsheim am Main Müllheim Sinnersdorf Riedstadt Leverkusen Münstertal/Schwarzwald Kirchzarten Titz Glashütten Hattersheim Bensheim Heerlen Jüchen Königstein im Taunus Kelsterbach Montbéliard Heidelberg Wiesloch Sulzbach Liège Hoensbroek Darmstadt Pforzheim Lörrach Eschborn Ans Basel Düsseldorf Mönchengladbach Flémalle-Haute Fürth Wuppertal Olpe Ratingen Frankfurt am Main Netphen Krefeld Saint-Dizier Lüdenscheid Wetzlar Villingen-Schwenningen Nettetal Hattingen Kaldenkirchen Duisburg Andenne Hagen Herrenberg Genk Essen Gärtringen Oberhausen Michelstadt Venlo Gelsenkirchen Hanau am Main Bottrop Gießen Hasselt Schwerte Gingelom Dortmund Houthalen Großostheim Champion Namur Tübingen Elsenfeld Wesel Heilbronn Ludwigsburg Unna Stuttgart Aschaffenburg Venray Datteln Lünen Marburg an der Lahn Filderstadt Bern Reutlingen Sursee Waalre Eindhoven Mol Soest Zürich Warstein Winterthur Dole Aarschot Charleroi Jumet Rixensart Küssnacht Overijse Tauberbischofsheim Reims Konstanz Lauda-Königshofen Kreuzlingen Tilburg Zaventem Edertal Schwäbisch Hall Bad Wildungen Mechelen Beersel Brussels Grimbergen Willebroek Fulda Breda Friedrichshafen Antwerp Würzburg Mons Kapellen Biberach an der Riß Zwijndrecht Zierenberg Stabroek Melsele Beveren Gersfeld Ulm Aalen Neu-Ulm Kassel Lindau Bebra Lustenau Dornbirn Großalmerode Valenciennes Lochristi Zelzate Gent Witzenhausen Uslar Denain Saint-Quentin Ertvelde Auxerre Tournai Ansbach Meiningen Göttingen Kempten (Allgäu) Coulommiers Eisenach Kortrijk Maldegem Douai Meulebeke Roubaix Izegem Menen Lille Suhl Duderstadt Mühlhausen Bamberg Damme Roeselare Knokke-Heist Augsburg Arras Nuremberg Füssen Reutte Fontainebleau Montargis Nevers Creil Béthune Neuhaus am Rennweg Braunlage Erfurt Nordhausen Sondershausen Herrsching am Ammersee Paris Veurne Domont Beaumont-sur-Oise Ingolstadt Koksijde Amiens Starnberg Bad Frankenhausen Weimar Beauvais Étampes Dunkirk Thale Munich Neustadt an der Donau Kahla Innsbruck Jena Bourges Kelheim Rambouillet Orléans Olivet Schwaz Schwandorf in Bayern Marktredwitz Jenbach Calais Weiden Landshut Arzberg Weißenfels Gera Boulogne-sur-Mer Chartres Greiz Merseburg Dreux Zeitz Halle (Saale) Oberviechtach Köthen Val-de-Reuil Louviers Évreux Rouen Blois Altenburg Dieppe Trostberg an der Alz Traunreut Bitterfeld-Wolfen Burghausen Zell am See Saalfelden am Steinernen Meer Freilassing Salzburg Hallein Tours Joué-lès-Tours Lunéville Baden-Baden Kehl Habay-la-Vieille Strasbourg Nancy Esch-sur-Alzette Couvin Ludweiler-Warndt Saint-Avold Wadgassen Trochtelfingen Dillingen Trier Luxembourg Thionville Saarbrücken Hamois Marche-en-Famenne Metz Bastogne Revin Bertrix Saarlouis Grevenmacher Völklingen Vielsalm 12 Aug 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 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
Völklingen Völklingen, 12 August: 3.4 µg/m³ Völklingen, 13 August: 4.4 µg/m³ Völklingen, 14 August: 6.7 µg/m³ Völklingen, 15 August: 72.3 µg/m³, 13× its usual 5.5 Völklingen, 16 August: no reading Völklingen, 17 August: 27.1 µg/m³, 5.0× its usual 5.4 Völklingen, 18 August: 6.0 µg/m³ Völklingen, 19 August: 4.4 µg/m³ Völklingen, 20 August: 3.2 µg/m³ Saarlouis Saarlouis, 12 August: 3.4 µg/m³ Saarlouis, 13 August: 4.9 µg/m³ Saarlouis, 14 August: 7.0 µg/m³ Saarlouis, 15 August: 68.2 µg/m³, 12× its usual 5.6 Saarlouis, 16 August: no reading Saarlouis, 17 August: 25.9 µg/m³, 4.8× its usual 5.4 Saarlouis, 18 August: 5.7 µg/m³ Saarlouis, 19 August: 4.0 µg/m³ Saarlouis, 20 August: 2.7 µg/m³ Saarbrücken Saarbrücken, 12 August: 3.6 µg/m³ Saarbrücken, 13 August: 4.9 µg/m³ Saarbrücken, 14 August: 7.9 µg/m³ Saarbrücken, 15 August: 52.9 µg/m³, 8.5× its usual 6.2 Saarbrücken, 16 August: no reading Saarbrücken, 17 August: 27.8 µg/m³, 4.6× its usual 6.1 Saarbrücken, 18 August: 6.3 µg/m³ Saarbrücken, 19 August: 4.2 µg/m³ Saarbrücken, 20 August: 2.9 µg/m³ Trier Trier, 12 August: 4.0 µg/m³ Trier, 13 August: 5.6 µg/m³ Trier, 14 August: 7.3 µg/m³ Trier, 15 August: 50.2 µg/m³, 7.1× its usual 7.1 Trier, 16 August: no reading Trier, 17 August: 13.7 µg/m³ Trier, 18 August: 8.6 µg/m³ Trier, 19 August: 4.7 µg/m³ Trier, 20 August: 3.9 µg/m³ Dillingen Dillingen, 12 August: 4.8 µg/m³ Dillingen, 13 August: 6.5 µg/m³ Dillingen, 14 August: 8.3 µg/m³ Dillingen, 15 August: 46.2 µg/m³, 6.8× its usual 6.8 Dillingen, 16 August: no reading Dillingen, 17 August: 26.1 µg/m³, 3.8× its usual 6.8 Dillingen, 18 August: 6.6 µg/m³ Dillingen, 19 August: 4.7 µg/m³ Dillingen, 20 August: 3.6 µg/m³ Wadgassen Wadgassen, 12 August: 4.2 µg/m³ Wadgassen, 13 August: 4.7 µg/m³ Wadgassen, 14 August: 7.0 µg/m³ Wadgassen, 15 August: 34.4 µg/m³, 6.4× its usual 5.4 Wadgassen, 16 August: no reading Wadgassen, 17 August: 32.3 µg/m³, 6.1× its usual 5.3 Wadgassen, 18 August: 4.9 µg/m³ Wadgassen, 19 August: 3.5 µg/m³ Wadgassen, 20 August: 2.3 µg/m³ Saint-Avold Saint-Avold, 12 August: 4.2 µg/m³ Saint-Avold, 13 August: 4.7 µg/m³ Saint-Avold, 14 August: 7.0 µg/m³ Saint-Avold, 15 August: 34.4 µg/m³, 6.4× its usual 5.4 Saint-Avold, 16 August: no reading Saint-Avold, 17 August: 32.3 µg/m³, 6.1× its usual 5.3 Saint-Avold, 18 August: 4.9 µg/m³ Saint-Avold, 19 August: 3.5 µg/m³ Saint-Avold, 20 August: 2.3 µg/m³ Ludweiler-Warndt Ludweiler-Warndt, 12 August: 4.2 µg/m³ Ludweiler-Warndt, 13 August: 4.7 µg/m³ Ludweiler-Warndt, 14 August: 7.0 µg/m³ Ludweiler-Warndt, 15 August: 34.4 µg/m³, 6.4× its usual 5.4 Ludweiler-Warndt, 16 August: no reading Ludweiler-Warndt, 17 August: 32.3 µg/m³, 6.1× its usual 5.3 Ludweiler-Warndt, 18 August: 4.9 µg/m³ Ludweiler-Warndt, 19 August: 3.5 µg/m³ Ludweiler-Warndt, 20 August: 2.3 µg/m³ Vielsalm Vielsalm, 12 August: no reading Vielsalm, 13 August: no reading Vielsalm, 14 August: 1.0 µg/m³ Vielsalm, 15 August: 16.6 µg/m³ Vielsalm, 16 August: 76.4 µg/m³, 15× its usual 2.2 Vielsalm, 17 August: 12.5 µg/m³ Vielsalm, 18 August: 8.6 µg/m³ Vielsalm, 19 August: 3.1 µg/m³ Vielsalm, 20 August: 1.1 µg/m³ Bertrix Bertrix, 12 August: 0.1 µg/m³ Bertrix, 13 August: 1.6 µg/m³ Bertrix, 14 August: 3.4 µg/m³ Bertrix, 15 August: 6.3 µg/m³ Bertrix, 16 August: 59.4 µg/m³, 12× its usual 2.4 Bertrix, 17 August: 6.3 µg/m³ Bertrix, 18 August: 5.6 µg/m³ Bertrix, 19 August: 1.1 µg/m³ Bertrix, 20 August: 0.3 µg/m³ Grevenmacher Grevenmacher, 12 August: 2.9 µg/m³ Grevenmacher, 13 August: 4.0 µg/m³ Grevenmacher, 14 August: 6.4 µg/m³ Grevenmacher, 15 August: 12.2 µg/m³ Grevenmacher, 16 August: 57.9 µg/m³, 11× its usual 5.5 Grevenmacher, 17 August: 67.4 µg/m³, 12× its usual 5.5 Grevenmacher, 18 August: 7.0 µg/m³ Grevenmacher, 19 August: 3.9 µg/m³ Grevenmacher, 20 August: 3.1 µg/m³ Revin Revin, 12 August: 2.2 µg/m³ Revin, 13 August: 3.5 µg/m³ Revin, 14 August: 5.9 µg/m³ Revin, 15 August: 10.2 µg/m³ Revin, 16 August: 56.7 µg/m³, 11× its usual 4.4 Revin, 17 August: 6.3 µg/m³ Revin, 18 August: 6.3 µg/m³ Revin, 19 August: 3.3 µg/m³ Revin, 20 August: 2.9 µg/m³ Bastogne Bastogne, 12 August: no reading Bastogne, 13 August: 0.1 µg/m³ Bastogne, 14 August: 1.6 µg/m³ Bastogne, 15 August: 4.3 µg/m³ Bastogne, 16 August: 50.8 µg/m³, 10× its usual 2.1 Bastogne, 17 August: 7.1 µg/m³ Bastogne, 18 August: 7.6 µg/m³ Bastogne, 19 August: 0.8 µg/m³ Bastogne, 20 August: 0.2 µg/m³ Marche-en-Famenne Marche-en-Famenne, 12 August: 0.7 µg/m³ Marche-en-Famenne, 13 August: 1.4 µg/m³ Marche-en-Famenne, 14 August: 3.4 µg/m³ Marche-en-Famenne, 15 August: 7.3 µg/m³ Marche-en-Famenne, 16 August: 44.7 µg/m³, 8.9× its usual 3.1 Marche-en-Famenne, 17 August: 7.5 µg/m³ Marche-en-Famenne, 18 August: 7.4 µg/m³ Marche-en-Famenne, 19 August: 1.9 µg/m³ Marche-en-Famenne, 20 August: 1.1 µg/m³ Hamois Hamois, 12 August: 0.7 µg/m³ Hamois, 13 August: 1.4 µg/m³ Hamois, 14 August: 3.4 µg/m³ Hamois, 15 August: 7.3 µg/m³ Hamois, 16 August: 44.7 µg/m³, 8.9× its usual 3.1 Hamois, 17 August: 7.5 µg/m³ Hamois, 18 August: 7.4 µg/m³ Hamois, 19 August: 1.9 µg/m³ Hamois, 20 August: 1.1 µg/m³ Esch-sur-Alzette Esch-sur-Alzette, 12 August: 3.9 µg/m³ Esch-sur-Alzette, 13 August: 5.2 µg/m³ Esch-sur-Alzette, 14 August: 8.2 µg/m³ Esch-sur-Alzette, 15 August: 12.2 µg/m³ Esch-sur-Alzette, 16 August: 36.4 µg/m³, 5.4× its usual 6.8 Esch-sur-Alzette, 17 August: 21.0 µg/m³ Esch-sur-Alzette, 18 August: 6.7 µg/m³ Esch-sur-Alzette, 19 August: 4.2 µg/m³ Esch-sur-Alzette, 20 August: 3.6 µg/m³ Luxembourg Luxembourg, 12 August: 4.5 µg/m³ Luxembourg, 13 August: 5.5 µg/m³ Luxembourg, 14 August: 7.8 µg/m³ Luxembourg, 15 August: 13.4 µg/m³ Luxembourg, 16 August: 33.0 µg/m³, 5.5× its usual 6.0 Luxembourg, 17 August: 45.6 µg/m³, 7.6× its usual 6.0 Luxembourg, 18 August: 7.2 µg/m³ Luxembourg, 19 August: 4.4 µg/m³ Luxembourg, 20 August: 5.0 µg/m³ Couvin Couvin, 12 August: 0.6 µg/m³ Couvin, 13 August: 0.6 µg/m³ Couvin, 14 August: 2.1 µg/m³ Couvin, 15 August: 7.0 µg/m³ Couvin, 16 August: 31.6 µg/m³, 6.3× its usual 2.0 Couvin, 17 August: 5.5 µg/m³ Couvin, 18 August: 5.4 µg/m³ Couvin, 19 August: 1.8 µg/m³ Couvin, 20 August: 0.8 µg/m³ Lunéville Lunéville, 12 August: 6.0 µg/m³ Lunéville, 13 August: 7.6 µg/m³ Lunéville, 14 August: 9.3 µg/m³ Lunéville, 15 August: 13.7 µg/m³ Lunéville, 16 August: 26.6 µg/m³, 4.4× its usual 6.1 Lunéville, 17 August: 25.2 µg/m³, 4.1× its usual 6.1 Lunéville, 18 August: 6.8 µg/m³ Lunéville, 19 August: 5.0 µg/m³ Lunéville, 20 August: 4.1 µg/m³ Habay-la-Vieille Habay-la-Vieille, 12 August: no reading Habay-la-Vieille, 13 August: 0.0 µg/m³ Habay-la-Vieille, 14 August: 0.5 µg/m³ Habay-la-Vieille, 15 August: 3.7 µg/m³ Habay-la-Vieille, 16 August: 25.5 µg/m³, 5.1× its usual 2.2 Habay-la-Vieille, 17 August: 3.9 µg/m³ Habay-la-Vieille, 18 August: 3.2 µg/m³ Habay-la-Vieille, 19 August: 0.8 µg/m³ Habay-la-Vieille, 20 August: 0.2 µg/m³ Thionville Thionville, 12 August: 4.6 µg/m³ Thionville, 13 August: 6.6 µg/m³ Thionville, 14 August: 9.5 µg/m³ Thionville, 15 August: 14.6 µg/m³ Thionville, 16 August: 25.3 µg/m³, 4.4× its usual 5.8 Thionville, 17 August: 48.8 µg/m³, 8.4× its usual 5.8 Thionville, 18 August: 6.8 µg/m³ Thionville, 19 August: 5.6 µg/m³ Thionville, 20 August: 4.4 µg/m³ Metz Metz, 12 August: 3.9 µg/m³ Metz, 13 August: 5.2 µg/m³ Metz, 14 August: 8.3 µg/m³ Metz, 15 August: 12.6 µg/m³ Metz, 16 August: 20.2 µg/m³ Metz, 17 August: 62.2 µg/m³, 9.9× its usual 6.3 Metz, 18 August: 4.2 µg/m³ Metz, 19 August: 2.5 µg/m³ Metz, 20 August: no reading Trochtelfingen Trochtelfingen, 12 August: 5.3 µg/m³ Trochtelfingen, 13 August: 4.5 µg/m³ Trochtelfingen, 14 August: 6.4 µg/m³ Trochtelfingen, 15 August: 6.7 µg/m³ Trochtelfingen, 16 August: no reading Trochtelfingen, 17 August: 33.6 µg/m³, 6.7× its usual 4.9 Trochtelfingen, 18 August: 11.2 µg/m³ Trochtelfingen, 19 August: 3.6 µg/m³ Trochtelfingen, 20 August: no reading Strasbourg Strasbourg, 12 August: 4.1 µg/m³ Strasbourg, 13 August: 5.2 µg/m³ Strasbourg, 14 August: 7.1 µg/m³ Strasbourg, 15 August: 12.5 µg/m³ Strasbourg, 16 August: 19.5 µg/m³ Strasbourg, 17 August: 32.3 µg/m³, 5.1× its usual 6.3 Strasbourg, 18 August: 8.0 µg/m³ Strasbourg, 19 August: 4.5 µg/m³ Strasbourg, 20 August: 2.7 µg/m³ Nancy Nancy, 12 August: 6.2 µg/m³ Nancy, 13 August: 6.8 µg/m³ Nancy, 14 August: 9.3 µg/m³ Nancy, 15 August: 11.8 µg/m³ Nancy, 16 August: 13.6 µg/m³ Nancy, 17 August: 31.9 µg/m³, 5.2× its usual 6.1 Nancy, 18 August: 6.1 µg/m³ Nancy, 19 August: 5.0 µg/m³ Nancy, 20 August: 4.4 µg/m³ Kehl Kehl, 12 August: 4.2 µg/m³ Kehl, 13 August: 4.9 µg/m³ Kehl, 14 August: 6.8 µg/m³ Kehl, 15 August: 11.9 µg/m³ Kehl, 16 August: no reading Kehl, 17 August: 28.0 µg/m³, 4.7× its usual 6.0 Kehl, 18 August: 7.7 µg/m³ Kehl, 19 August: 4.6 µg/m³ Kehl, 20 August: no reading Baden-Baden Baden-Baden, 12 August: 4.5 µg/m³ Baden-Baden, 13 August: 4.7 µg/m³ Baden-Baden, 14 August: 6.2 µg/m³ Baden-Baden, 15 August: 8.4 µg/m³ Baden-Baden, 16 August: no reading Baden-Baden, 17 August: 25.0 µg/m³, 4.7× its usual 5.3 Baden-Baden, 18 August: 10.9 µg/m³ Baden-Baden, 19 August: 3.7 µg/m³ Baden-Baden, 20 August: no reading 12 Aug 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 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
Vielsalm Wallonia, Belgium 1 16 August 2.2 15× Völklingen Saarland, Germany 2 15 August 5.5 13× Grevenmacher Grevenmacher, Luxembourg 2 17 August 5.5 12× Saarlouis Saarland, Germany 2 15 August 5.6 12× Bertrix Wallonia, Belgium 1 16 August 2.4 12× Revin Grand Est, France 1 16 August 4.4 11× Bastogne Wallonia, Belgium 1 16 August 2.1 10× Metz Grand Est, France 1 17 August 6.3 9.9× Marche-en-Famenne Wallonia, Belgium 1 16 August 3.1 8.9× Hamois Wallonia, Belgium 1 16 August 3.1 8.9× Saarbrücken Saarland, Germany 2 15 August 6.2 8.5× Thionville Grand Est, France 2 17 August 5.8 8.4× Luxembourg Luxembourg 2 17 August 6.0 7.6× Trier Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany 1 15 August 7.1 7.1× Dillingen Saarland, Germany 2 15 August 6.8 6.8× Trochtelfingen Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany 1 17 August 4.9 6.7× Wadgassen Saarland, Germany 2 15 August 5.4 6.4× Saint-Avold Grand Est, France 2 15 August 5.4 6.4× Ludweiler-Warndt Saarland, Germany 2 15 August 5.4 6.4× Couvin Wallonia, Belgium 1 16 August 2.0 6.3× Esch-sur-Alzette Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg 1 16 August 6.8 5.4× Nancy Grand Est, France 1 17 August 6.1 5.2× Strasbourg Grand Est, France 1 17 August 6.3 5.1× Habay-la-Vieille Wallonia, Belgium 1 16 August 2.2 5.1× Kehl Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany 1 17 August 6.0 4.7× Baden-Baden Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany 1 17 August 5.3 4.7× Lunéville Grand Est, France 2 16 August 6.1 4.4×
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 Germany and France
Number 34 of 53 episodes in Germany and France since our records began, by cities reached.
Europe, 1 to 14 February 2025 628 Europe, January and February 2026 625 Europe, 14 February to 1 March 2025 619 Germany, Poland and 25 more countries, March 2025 553 Europe, 1 to 12 March 2026 532 Europe, 8 to 27 January 2024 519 Germany, France and 19 more countries, January 2025 446 Europe, 18 to 25 March 2026 430 Europe, March 2025 401 Europe, November 2024 365 Europe, February and March 2024 303 Europe, March and April 2024 282 Germany, Belgium and 2 more countries, August 2026 27 Bars: cities reached; colour: the level of the episode's highest daily reading. All 53 .
Use this page SmogRank, Germany, Belgium and 2 more countries, August 2026: 27 cities with PM2.5 at twice their usual or more, 15 to 17 August 2026, smogrank.com/episodes/2026-08-germany-belgium-and-2-more-countries (accessed 5 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. Fire detections from NASA FIRMS; smoke maps from NOAA HMS.
