Srinagar: The night temperature across Kashmir dipped by several degrees as the cold wave strengthened. Also, the prevailing dry weather is expected to lead to further drop in the mercury.
Kashmir is currently under the grip of 'Chillai-Kalan' considered to be the harshest period of winter, where chances of snowfall are most frequent and maximum and the temperature drops considerably.
However, so far, the weather has remained dry, resulting in an increase in ailments like cough and common cold.
The Meteorological Department here has forecast mainly dry weather for the rest of the year which could lead to a further drop in the night temperature.
'Chillai-Kalan' began on December 21 and will end on January 31 next year. But the cold weather will continue even after that as the 40-day period is followed by a 20-day long 'Chillai-Khurd' (small cold) and a 10-day long 'Chillai-Bachha' (baby cold).
Meanwhile, the night temperature across Kashmir Valley and Ladakh region dropped further below the freezing point on Sunday night.
Srinagar recorded a low of minus 5.1 degrees Celsius, a decrease of nearly three degrees from Saturday night's minus 2.2 degrees Celsius, a MeT department official said.
He said the night temperature in Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir, went dropped nearly five degrees from Saturday's 0.3 degree Celsius to settle below the freezing point at a low of minus 4.3 degrees Celsius.
The official said Kokernag, in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 2.5 degrees Celsius, while Kupwara, in north, registered the minimum of minus 5.5 degrees Celsius.
The famous ski-resort of Gulmarg, in north Kashmir, registered a low of minus 4.6 degrees Celsius same as that of the Saturday night. Pahalgam hill resort, in south Kashmir, witnessed a low of minus 6.4 degrees Celsius, which is over three degrees lower from minus 2.9 degrees Celsius 24 hours earlier, the official said.
He said Pahalgam was the coldest place in the Valley. Leh, in Ladakh region, was the coldest recorded place in the state as the night temperature there went down by over four degrees from Saturday night’s minus 9.4 degrees Celsius to settle at a low of minus 13.9 degrees Celsius, the official said.
He said the nearby Kargil town recorded a low of minus 11.8 degrees Celsius a decrease of nearly two degrees from minus 9.9 degrees Celsius.
