AHMEDABAD: Amdavadis woke up to a crisp winter morning as the mercury touched 12.8 degrees celsius on Thursday, bringing a fleeting chill that has been rare this season. While temperatures dipped below 13 degrees for the second time in 2025, the trend of warmer-than-usual winters continues, with average minimums staying above normal since Nov.
The temperature rollercoaster is set to continue, as winds shifting to easterly and south-easterly directions are expected to drive temperatures higher. Though Thursday was cooler than usual, the minimum temperature was still 0.5 degrees higher than normal. This comes after a week where minimum temperatures climbed to 15.1 degrees celsius. Since Nov, the city’s lowest recorded temperature was 11.8 degrees celsius on Dec 17. However, the overall trend shows a warmer winter, with minimum temperatures averaging 1.8 degrees above normal in Nov and 1.4 degrees higher in Dec.
Meanwhile, a change in wind direction from easterly to south-easterly is likely to cause a rise in temperature in the city and state from Friday.
The India meteorological department (IMD) predicts a rise in minimum temperatures by 2-3 degrees celsius over the next two days, followed by a similar dip thereafter. Ahmedabad is expected to see a minimum of 14 degrees celsius on Friday.
Across Gujarat, the coldest spot on Thursday was Naliya at 5.6 degrees celsius, followed by Kandla at 6.5 degrees, Rajkot at 8.3 degrees, Amreli at 8.4 degrees, and Vadodara at 9.2 degrees.
The winter chill has also led to an uptick in seasonal ailments. Physicians in the city report a surge in cases of respiratory illnesses, including sore throats, colds, fevers, runny nose and body aches – telltale signs of viral infection. “Poor air quality in the mornings and evenings exacerbates the issue, with viral infections becoming increasingly common during this time of year,” said a physician.