Ahmedabad recorded its poorest January air quality in six years on Wednesday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) climbing to 180, placing it in the unhealthy category. The spike marks the highest January AQI since 2020, when the index stood at 124, and represents a sharp rise compared to the past five years.
Pollution levels have surged as winter conditions intensify across Gujarat. Falling temperatures, calm winds and early morning fog have trapped pollutants close to the ground, resulting in hazy skies and reduced visibility during morning hours, disrupting peak-time commuting in several areas.
In recent years, Ahmedabad’s January AQI has remained relatively stable — 130 in 2021, 117 in 2022, 123 in 2023, 119 in 2024 and 120 in January 2025 — making this year’s jump to 180 the steepest in six years.
Cold weather persisted across the state for the second consecutive day. A shift in wind direction led to a further drop in minimum temperatures on Wednesday and Thursday. Naliya in Kutch was the coldest location in Gujarat, recording 5.2°C on Wednesday.
Ahmedabad’s minimum temperature fell to 12.6°C on Wednesday and further to 11.5°C on Thursday, 0.8 degrees below normal. Gandhinagar recorded 11.5°C and 10.5°C, Bhuj 9.4°C and 12.4°C, Deesa 10.4°C and 9.3°C, and Amreli 12.4°C and 6°C. Other cities, including Porbandar, Rajkot, Vadodara and Surat, also experienced below-normal temperatures.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a slight rise in minimum temperatures on Friday, with Ahmedabad expected to record around 13°C.