Srinagar, Dec 24 || The night temperature remained above the freezing point in Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar city on Wednesday, as it dropped notches below the zero degrees Celsius in Gulmarg and Pahalgam hill stations.
The Meteorological (MeT) Department said the minimum temperature was 3 degrees Celsius in Srinagar, while it was minus 4.2 and minus 2.2 degrees in Gulmarg and Pahalgam, respectively.
Jammu city had 8.2 degrees Celsius, Katra town 9.4, Batote 4.2, Banihal 6.4 and Bhaderwah 0.6 degrees as the minimum temperature.
The MeT department has forecast dry weather till December 31 across the union territory, saying that the minimum temperature is likely to drop due to a clear night sky.
The 40-day-long period of harsh winter cold called the ‘Chillai Kalan’ started on December 21 on a positive note as all the higher reaches of the Valley received the much-awaited snowfall while rain lashed the plains.
This wet spell broke the 3-month-long dry spell that had given rise to problems in the Valley, as most people complained of bad cold, flu and chest-related ailments.