There has been no let up in the intense cold wave in the Valley with the night temperature in Srinagar dropping to -6.6 degrees Celsius on Tuesday.
A MeT official said the night temperature in Srinagar settled at -6.6 degrees Celsius, which was over six degrees below normal for this time of the season.
The fall in mercury led to the freezing of water supply lines and thin layer of ice covered the surface of several water bodies.
The Valley is experiencing intense cold wave conditions.
Pahalgam in south Kashmir recorded the minimum temperature of minus 7.8 degrees Celsius as against minus 5 degrees Celsius recorded during the previous night.
The night temperature in the ski resort of Gulmarg settled at a low of minus 7.4 degrees Celsius — almost three degrees down from minus 4.8 degrees Celsius recorded during the previous night.
Qazigund recorded a low of minus 6.2 degrees Celsius while Konibal in Pampore area, was the coldest recorded place in the valley at minus 8.5 degrees Celsius.
Kupwara and Kokernag registered a low of minus 6.4 degrees Celsius.
A MeT official has predicted a drop of two to three degrees in the minimum temperatures during the next few days till December 26.
“There is a possibility of light snowfall over the higher reaches towards the later afternoon of December 27 till the forenoon the next day,” he said.
The official said while the weather would stay mainly dry on December 29 and 30, light snowfall is possible in the isolated higher reaches on New Year’s Eve, and light snowfall could take place at isolated to scattered places in Kashmir from January 1-3.
Kashmir is currently under the grip of ‘Chillai-Kalan’ –the 40-day harshest period of winter. During the 40 days of Chillai-Kalan, the chances of snowfall are most frequent and maximum and the temperature drops considerably.
It ends on January 31. The 40 days Chilai Kalan is followed by a 20-day ‘Chillai-Khurd’ (small cold) and a 10-day ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold).