Kolkata is enjoying a bright and clear winter day on Wednesday, with comfortable temperatures and sunshine. After a cool start to the morning, the city is set for a gradual warm-up through the afternoon, making conditions ideal for daily commutes and outdoor errands. However, concerns over air quality continue to cast a shadow over the otherwise pleasant weather.
Clear skies, steady warm-up
The morning was back to crisp winter air and clear skies, pretty normal for January in the city. In late morning and throughout the afternoon, the temperature is expected to continue upwards with the rising sun. There is no forecasted rain or weather disruption in the region. It has also been indicated that with 0 mm of rain expected and a 0% chance of rain, there's little chance of weather disruption. Winds are expected to be gentle, with winds remaining light-to-moderate, topping out around 12.2 km/h.
Air quality remains a concern
Despite the pleasant weather conditions, air pollution is still one of the major concerns. Also on Tuesday, 13 January 2026, the air quality in the city was found to be seriously polluted. On Tuesday, 13 January 2026, Kolkata recorded an AQI (India) of 307, categorised in the Severe class.
The pollutant composition was dominated by particulate matter: PM2.5 at 145 and PM10 at 183, both of which were high enough to irritate the eye, throat, and chest, especially in children, sensitive groups of age, and people suffering from asthma or heart disease. However, the US AQI still indicated poor air. The US AQI stood at 225, indicating unhealthy air.
Sunny and dry conditions with little wind do little to help distribute the pollution. As mentioned, Sunny, dry weather with light winds can be a double-edged sword: it feels great, but it doesn’t always help ‘wash out’ pollution the way rain does. The pollution may be left in the air, especially during rush hour traffic conditions. People have been advised to enjoy the good weather while being cautious.
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After sunset (around 5:12 PM), temperatures should ease down again, and the late evening may feel distinctly cooler - worth having a light layer to hand if you're going out to dinner or a night commute.
The week ahead
The outlook for the next few days is the same as ever. Sunny conditions every day and not a drop of rain in sight. There is an expected rise in temperature as Thursday is expected to be 25.6°C/13°C, while Friday is expected to be 26.2°C/12.7°C. Then the expected temperature for the weekend is 26.8°C/13.4°C and 28.3°C/14.
