Europe Air Quality Alert: Canadian Wildfire Smoke

Is the air quality poor in Europe?

Extensive, widespread wildfires have been burning across the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan since May 2025. At the start of June, a large plume of Canadian wildfire smoke drifted across the North Atlantic and reddened European skies (1). 

Initially, most of the wildfire smoke reaching Europe was found at a high altitude, around 9,000 meters (29,528 feet), and was not strongly impacting air quality. However, on Tuesday, June 10, smoke began descending to lower altitudes and impacting air quality across much of the continent.

Where in Europe is air quality being affected?

As of Thursday, June 12, 2025, there is widespread moderate air quality affecting European countries. Air quality is in the “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” range in several communities across Central and Southern Europe.

Air pollution is impacting several European cities, including:

• Avignon, France
  
• Florence, Italy
• Geneva, Switzerland
• Genoa, Italy
• Grenoble, France
  
• Lausanne, Switzerland
  
• Milano, Italy
• Rome, Italy
• Verona, Italy

On Wednesday morning June 11, Zagreb, Ljubljana, Milano, and Bern were among the most polluted major city in the world, when ranked with 124 other major cities.

Zagreb, Ljubljana, Milano, and Bern ranked among the most polluted major cities on Wednesday morning.

What is causing poor air quality in Europe?

Canadian wildfire smoke is strongly affecting poor air quality in Central and Southern Europe on June 12, especially in Italy and Switzerland.

A plume of smoke initially crossed the Mediterranean to reach Greece on May 18 and 19 (2)(3). The second plume arrived in northwestern Europe on June 1.

Poor air quality in France and Spain is also being affected by Saharan dust (4). It is anticipated that dust will have a greater impact on Western European air quality as the week progresses. As dust moves north and west, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Austria, western Germany, and the British Isles will be particularly impacted by dust (5).

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.