People continued to shiver as night temperature further dipped and settled several degrees below normal at majority of the places in Kashmir valley and Ladakh region.
However, there was some improvement in the maximum temperature due to sunshine though ice cold winds continued in Kashmir valley, where world famous ski resort of Gulmarg was the coldest at minus 9.4 degree.
A Met department spokesperson said weather will mainly remain dry during the next 24 hours in Kashmir valley, which could result in further dip in the night temperature.
Leh in Ladakh region was the coldest place in the region after mercury dipped about 5 degree from Friday and settled at minus 15.6 degree.
Gulmarg, where ski slopes are covered under several feet of snow, witnessed a slight dip in the night temperature. Against minus 9 degree recorded on Friday, the night temperature at Gulmarg, which is about 55 km from here in north Kashmir, settled at minus 9.4 degree. The night temperature at the ski resort was over 2 degree below normal.
“Despite below normal temperature tourists, including skiers, are out on the slopes since early this morning. Fresh snowfallon Friday has added to the beauty of this ski resort,” a hotelier told UNI over the phone.
World famous health resort of Pahalgam, about 100 km from here in south Kashmir, also witnessed a dip in the night temperature. Against minus 4 degree recorded on Friday, the night temperature at Pahalgam was minus 8.4 degree, which is about 2 degree below normal.
However, the night temperature in the summer capital Srinagar witnessed an improvement of 2 degree from Friday and settled at minus 1.2 degree owing to overcast conditions. People woke up to a chilly and cloudy Saturday morning in Srinagar, but as the day progressed sun came out, resulting in slight improvement in the temperature, though ice cold winds continued.
The mercury at Qazigund, gateway to Kashmir valley, and tourist resort of Kokernag also improved and settled at minus 2.2 degree and minus 1.5 degree, respectively.
Meanwhile,The Jammu and Kashmir meteorological department on Thursday has predicted weather to remain dry till January 12.
An official from the meteorological department said that weather is likely to remain dry till January 12. “The weather conditions would start gradually improving and dry weather would continue for next one week as per the current prediction,” he said.
The Srinagar city has recorded minus 3.9 degree Celsius temperature.
Qazigund has recorded minus 4.4 degree Celsius, Tourist destination Pahalgam has recorded minus 4.5, degree Celsius while Gulmarg has recorded minus 6.0, respectively.
The Kokernag area of district Islamabad has recorded minus 2.5 and Kupwara has recorded minus 3.6.
The Jammu city has recorded 2.7, degree Celsius; Banihal has recorded minus 1.6, Batote minus 2.1, Katra5.0 and Doda 0.3 degree Celsius
Leh has recorded 0.2, while Kargil has recorded minus 8.5 degree Celsius.