Central Europe Air Quality Alert

Is the air quality good in Central Europe?

On February 5, 2026, air quality across much of Central Europe is poor, with many locations recording AQI levels ranging from moderate to unhealthy due to elevated concentrations of PM2.5.

The poor air quality is primarily impacting the Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, and the Netherlands.

Air quality in some Central European cities tends to be poorer in winter than the rest of the year, due in part to household heating methods. For example, Warsaw's monthly average concentration of PM2.5 in January 2024 was 18.1 µg/m³, on par with similar concentrations of 18.4 µg/m³ in November and 18.1 µg/m³ in December. However, PM2.5 concentrations from May through August ranged from 6.9 to 9.4 µg/m³.

Air quality map of Central Europe as of 8:00 AM (PT) on February 5, 2026. Source: IQAir.

Which cities are affected by bad air quality in Central Europe?

As of February 5, 2026, several major cities across Central Europe and its surrounding regions are reporting poor air quality. Some of the affected cities include:

• Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Berlin, Germany
  
• Bremen, Germany
• Brno, Czech Republic
• Dortmund, Germany
  
• Kraków, Poland
• Hamburg, Germany
• Hannover, Germany
• Lubeck, Germany
• Munster, Germany
• Ostrava, Czech Republic
• Prague, Czech Republic
• Rotterdam, Netherlands
  
• Warsaw, Poland
• Wrocław, Poland

Air quality conditions can change rapidly throughout the day. For a complete, real-time overview of pollution levels, see Europe’s air quality map.

Wrocław, Poland, is ranked the 22nd most polluted major city in the world, and Berlin, Germany, is ranked 23rd as of 8:00 AM (PT) on February 5, 2026. Source: IQAir.

When will the air quality improve in Central Europe?

Air quality improvements will vary across the region over the weekend as weather changes and winds shift direction. Air quality may remain poor in Poland until at least Sunday, while conditions may improve in Southern Germany and the Czech Republic on Friday. 

What is causing poor air quality in Central Europe?

Pollutant sources vary across the region, but home heating practices in winter are a major contributor to poor air quality. Solid fuel is used by nearly 50% of households in Poland - most of it coal - though there are efforts to reduce the country's coal dependence (1).

Wood burning is also a common practice in many European homes, a practice that has grown by 150% between 2006 and 2020 (2).

Contributing to the mix of pollutants is a remnant plume of dust from the Saharan Desert impacting Czech Republic, Poland, and Slovakia (3). This dust is moving northwest and is dissipating.

Some cities located in valleys and basins may also experience temperature inversions in winter, when warm air rises above cold air, trapping pollutants at ground level. Coupled with stagnant air, this can prevent the dispersal of pollutants.

How can I protect myself from poor air quality?

• Get a free air quality app for real-time air quality alerts and forecasts.
• Shut doors and windows and set the HVAC to recirculate mode.
• Contribute to your community’s outdoor air quality data.
• Stay indoors when air quality is poor; if you do need to go outdoors, wear a KN95/FFP2 mask.
• Run a high-performance air purifier to filter particles, gases, and other pollutants.