Srinagar, Jan 2 || Due to a clear night sky, the minimum temperature dropped throughout Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, and the Meteorological (MeT) Department has forecast cloudy, but mostly dry weather for the next 48 hours.
Srinagar city had one degree Celsius, Gulmarg minus 7 and Pahalgam minus 6.2 degrees as the minimum temperature.
Jammu city had 6 degrees Celsius, Katra town 6.5, Batote 2.8, Banihal minus 1.1 and Bhaderwah minus 2.8 degrees as the night’s lowest temperature.
The MeT Department has forecast generally dry weather from January 2 to January 5.
The 40-day-long period of intense winter cold called the ‘Chillai Kalan’ started on December 21, and so far this season, there has been no snowfall in the plains of the Valley. The upper reaches and some tourist spots, including Gulmarg, Sonamarg, witnessed snowfall on New Year's Eve, much to the delight of tourists.
Earth scientists say that the absence of heavy snowfall during the 40-day-long Chillai Kalan would spell disaster during the summer months.