SRINAGAR: Parts of the world famous Dal Lake were frozen as Srinagar witnessed the coldest night of the winter after the minimum dropped to minus 4 degree.
Elsewhere in the Kashmir valley and Ladakh region the minimum remained blow normal resulting in chilly conditions. A Met department spokesperson said the weather will remain dry and cold over Jammu and Kashmir during the next 24 hours.
There will also be no large change during the subsequent two days, he said. Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, recorded coldest night of the season after the minimum dropped to minus 4 degree.
Parts of the famed Dal Lake, particularly near banks, were frozen, making a little difficult for shikarawals. Taps and other water bodies, including small nallahs were also frozen in the city and outskirts. However, frozen parts started melting as the day progress though the sun was playing hide and seek.
Met spokesman said the sky will remain partly cloudy with haze in Srinagar tomorrow. Gulmarg, the world famous ski resort in north Kashmir, remained coldest in the Kashmir valley with minus 9 degree minimum temperature.
However, despite chilly weather conditions, a large number of tourists, including skiers from different parts of the country and abroad are arriving there daily.
There was also slight drop in the minimum temperature at Pahalgam, base camp of Holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir. Against yesterdays minus 7.7 degree, it was minus 7.8 degree. Qazigund, gateway of Kashmir on Srinagar-Jammu national highway also recorded coldest night of the season when the temperature dipped to minus 5, three notches below normal.
The minimum temperature was minus 4.2 degree at Kokernag, minus 4 degree at Kupwara. People in Ladakh region continued to shiver as there was still no improvement in the weather conditions.
Kargil, a border town on Srinagar-Leh national highway which has been closed for winter months, recorded coldest night of the season so far after the minimum temperature was recorded minus 16.2 degree. The earlier coldest was minus 14.8 degree, recorded yesterday. Leh recorded minus 16 degree, an improvement of one notch than yesterday.
