Cold weather conditions improve in Kashmir

The mercury on Thursday night settled above the freezing point at most places, providing huge relief to the residents from the biting cold conditions, the officials said.

The minimum was one to over three degrees above the normal for this time of the season, they said.

The night temperature in Srinagar -- the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir -- settled at a low of 0.4 degrees Celsius on Thursday night, over four degrees up from -4° Celsius the previous night, the officials said.

The gateway town to the valley, Qazigund, recorded a low of -0.2° Celsius, while the mercury settled at 0.2° Celsius in north Kashmir's Kupwara, and 0.8° Celsius in south Kashmir's Kokernag, the officials said.

The Pahalgam tourist resort in south Kashmir recorded a low of -1.8° Celsius, while the Gulmarg skiing resort in north Kashmir recorded zero degree Celsius.

Konibal town in Pulwama district was the coldest recorded place in the Union Territory as the mercury there settled at a low of -3° degrees Celsius.

The meteorological department said there is a possibility of a brief spell of light snow at isolated places in the higher reaches late on Friday.

It said while the weather would remain generally dry on December 6-7, another brief spell of light snowfall at isolated places in the higher reaches is likely on December 8.