Here in Ahmedabad, the early mornings have acquired an edge this week. The date on most New Yorker’s iMacs and Blackberries may be well into January 2026, but winter does not seem to want to let go of the city this year. Overall, it turned out less of a warm morning on Thursday, January 8 when Amdavadis woke up to the ‘only slight‘ increment in the temperature reading.The ‘feel good factor’ eluded as cold northerly winds continued sweeping dry plains of Gujarat.
As per India Meteorological Department (IMD), the minimum temperature in Ahmedabad settled at 14.7 degrees, which was about 1.5 degrees more than the normal for this time of year. But for those who had to ride on two-wheelers or stand at bus stops, the numbers recorded by the thermometer tell only a part of the story. But for the truly chattering teeth and stinging tear-ducts, blame this stubborn northerly draft that is ensuring the ‘’real-feel’’ temperature is much lower than any reading of mercury.
The ‘Wind Chill’ Factor: What It Really Means, and Why It Feels Colder
The current torrid event is a textbook illustration of the preponderance of wind-chill conditions. But despite the sun’s appearance, and daytime maximums climbing to 27.8°C each day, persistent winds — blowing at an average of 12-15km/h with some stronger gusts — mean the warmth doesn’t get a chance to stick around. Those winds are, in effect, a colossal cooling system — they blow away the thin veneer of warmth our bodies produce, and deliver an icy slap to any exposed skin.
Met authorities have said this onrush is due to a wind that is moving from North of Gujarat in the form of high pressure, which has lead the more central part of North Gujarat to see such strong winds. The “shivering spell”, which saw temperatures plummeted to 12.5C earlier in the week, has officially come to an end but the city is still in a transition phase where the air hold onto its winter chill.
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Statewide Snapshot: Naliya and Amreli in the Freeze Lead
If Ahmedabad is feeling the nip, other parts of Gujarat are reeling under more severe cold. Piercing temperatures persist in the state’s infamous “cold hubs”:
- Naliya: Continued to be the coldest place in the state, which recorded 9°C.
- Amreli: It also became part of the single-digit club as mercury dropped to bone-chilling 9°C making it an epicenter of the ongoing winter wave.
- Gandhinagar: The capital city shivered at 12°C, not mincing words about being a few degrees behind Ahmedabad cold-wise.Amdavadis woke up to a minimum of 14.8°C.The average morning temperature was slightly below normal here and in Gandhinagar both.
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Looking to the Future: Climate Forecasted Warming?
If you were looking to keep those heavy woollens, the IMD suggests an official no for just a little longer. There is at least three more days of a steady cold freeze, the current outlook says, while northerly winds are forecast to continue over the weekend.
The good news for anyone sick of the freeze is that a modest warming trend is forecast to begin early next week. After January 12, temperatures will rise by an average of 2-3°C as the wind pattern changes with a more prolonged relief from the bone-chilling cold that greeted the New Year.
Staying Safe and Healthy
The city is now seeing an air quality ranging from “Unhealthy” with 227 AQI, and the temperature varies from a chilling 14°C to a warm 28°C, health experts said. The remarkable difference between day and night temperatures — nearly 13 degrees — such as we are witnessing at present is repeated business for seasonal flus and respiratory blockages.
Layer Up: Wear several thin layers instead of one heavy jacket to more effectively trap body heat.
Hydrate: In the cold it’s easy to forget water, but hydration is essential for regulating body temperature.
Mind the Air: If you’re going for a walk early the morning, try to wear a mask to protect yourself from both cool airbrush and high particulate matter in the air.
For now, Ahmedabad is a city of mufflers and steaming cups of cutting chai. The winter of 2026 is ensuring that history never forgets it before the inevitable Gujarat heat descends.
