Leh witnesses coldest night, Srinagar remains sub-zero

The night temperature in Leh and surrounding areas dropped to 0.6 degrees to register coldest day of this season, breaking yesterday's record of 16 degrees Celsius. Mercury also dropped in the Kargil district with the night temperature settling at minus 11.2 degrees Celsius, the official said.

Temperature raised 1.2 degrees C in Srinagar city, but it remained in negative at minus 4.0 degree C. It had yesterday witnessed the coldest night of the season at minus 5.2 degrees Celsius.

The sub-zero temperatures resulted in a thin layer of ice forming at the peripheries of several waterbodies, including famous Dal Lake. However, the ice melted as the day progressed with bright sun shine.

The Pahalgam health resort in south Kashmir, 100 kms from here, was the the coldest place in the valley with a minimum of minus 6.4 degrees Celsius. This is the coldest temperature recorded in the valley since November this year.

The famous ski resort of Gulmarg, 55 kms from here, in north Kashmir recorded 5.0 degrees Celsius while Kupwara district town also reeled under intense cold at minus 4.9 degrees Celsius.

"The continued dry spell is the only reason for the dip in the night temperature across the region," the weather office said.