Srinagar, Dec 21: As Chillai Kalan commenced on Tuesday, the cold wave in the Valley intensified further with Srinagar witnessing coldest night of the season.
 With the onset of 40-day cold period, temperature dipped to minus 6.2 degree Celsius.
 The meteorological department forecast says that there would be no snowfall or rain in the next few days, but there are chances of slight increase in the temperature due to Western Disturbances.
 Officials of the department, however, said that decline in night temperature was not something unusual as temperature fell to minus 7 and 6.3 respectively on December 31 in 2007 and Dec 15 in 2005.
 “There are no chances of snowfall in the next 5-6 days and decline in temperature was result of dry weather prevailing here,” said Assistant Meteorological Officer, Ghulam Nabi Ganai.
 Dal Lake was frozen in the morning and boatmen were seen breaking the ice.
In the Valley, Kupwara witnessed maximum temperature of 12.2 degree Celsius while Gulmarg witnessed minimum temperature of minus 7.5 degree Celsius.
 Leh in Ladakh was the coldest place in the state with a low of minus 17.0 degree Celsius, followed by Kargil at minus 11.6 degree Celsius.
 Since the start of December when Valley usually receives snowfall, Kashmir is in the grip of cold wave like conditions with nights recording sub-zero temperatures.
 Last year the Valley was draped by a white blanket of snow on December 9.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 21 Dec 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 21 Dec 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 22 Dec 2010 00:00:00 IST