The customary cobalt blue skies of the Côte d’Azur have been dimmed in the last couple of days by wild fires raging in Canada, over 6,800km away!
As the particles fall to the ground, Atmo Sud has issued a ‘Pollution Alert‘, and the Alpes-Maritimes government has posted health recommendations for residents, particularly along the coast. (See below for details.)
The suspended particles from the Canadian fires were carried across the Atlantic by the strong winds of the jet stream, first reaching the UK. But while UK residents were treated to gorgeous orange sunsets their air quality didn’t suffer as the particles were too high.
But since reaching France yesterday (Monday 9 June 2025), the particles have been falling to the ground from high altitudes and settling in the region.
“The episode is currently easing in the Alps, (but) levels are rising along the entire coastal strip,” said the Alpes-Maritimes government.
Atmo Index is ‘Bad’ with ‘Poor’ Air Quality
According to Atmo Sud, the air quality index for Nice – where world leaders and environmentalists are gathered for the UN Ocean Conference – is currently ‘Bad‘. This index is rare and only seen 4% of the year in Nice, and 3% in Antibes.
‘Bad’ is however not the worst. There’s still ‘Very bad’, ‘Extremely bad’ and ‘Event’.
Atmo Sud says that in addition to the particles, “sunshine and light winds are contributing to an increase in ozone levels. Air quality is poor in the south and degraded in the north of the region.”
The observatory predicts that tomorrow, 11 June, the air mass which is laden with the particles will continue its path toward eastern Europe.
“Particulate matter levels are expected to decrease in the region, but ozone concentrations remain high. Air quality is poor across a large southern portion of the region, says Atmo Sud (which is the air quality observatory in the South Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region).
The Atmo index will drop to ‘Degraded‘ on Wednesday, and remain Degraded on Thursday.
What is the ATMO index?
It’s a daily air quality indicator calculated from the air concentrations of regulated pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), ozone (O₃), and fine particles (PM10 and PM2.5), says Atmo Sud. The index is updated at 12pm daily. The levels above Degraded are AVERAGE and Good.
What’s happening with the fires in Canada?
Canada suffers from wildfires most years, although this year some Canadians have said it’s the worst in their lifetime. The 2025 wildfire season began in the middle of May with over 160 wildfires, according to the BBC. The US and Australia have sent fire crews to assist.
Health Recommendations During a Particulate Pollution Episode
The Alpes-Maritimes department has issued these recommendations for vulnerable* and sensitive** individuals.
- Avoid intense physical or sporting activities (which force you to breathe through the mouth).
- Avoid high-traffic areas during peak hours.
- If you are undergoing medical treatment, seek advice from your doctor.
- Continue airing rooms for at least 10 minutes a day, both in winter and summer.
- If you experience respiratory or cardiac discomfort, consult a healthcare professional.
- The harmful effects of air pollution accumulate day after day, not just during pollution peaks.
* Vulnerable people: pregnant women, infants and young children, the elderly, and people with cardiovascular, respiratory, or neurological conditions.
** Sensitive people: those who consider themselves affected during pollution peaks and/or whose symptoms appear or worsen during such episodes (e.g., diabetics, immunocompromised individuals, those with neurological disorders, or at risk of heart, respiratory, or infectious diseases).
Behavioral Recommendations During a Pollution Episode
For your travel:
- Limit travel and postpone non-essential trips.
- Choose public transportation or carpooling.
- Use non-polluting modes of transport.
- Respect the ban on open-air burning.
- Control indoor temperatures.
- Stop using inefficient biomass combustion devices.
- Postpone agricultural fertilizer spreading and soil work
As the government says these are actually actions to adopt all year round!
