January 25(Gulistan News Tv): The characteristic night chill returned to Kashmir as the minimum temperature dipped significantly across the region, officials said. The weather, however, was sunny and warm in the Kashmir valley on Saturday.
The meteorological centre in  Srinagar said that there will be a gradual and significant rise in day temperature during the next four days with a fall of 1-3 C in minimum temperature. The MeT said that there is no significant weather activity and a dry weather is expected till January 28.
January 29 is expected to be cloudy with chances of rains and snowfall till the end of the month. On January 30-31, the weather will be generally cloudy with possibility of light rain/snow at isolated places, it said.
In Srinagar, the mercury plunged to -4.1 C, which is 1.8 C below normal during the intervening night of Friday and Saturday. Tourist resorts like Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Gulmarg in Baramulla recorded even colder nights, with minimum temperatures of -8.2 C and -9 C, respectively.
Kashmir’s harshest phase of winter- Chillai-Kalan,’ that spans 40 days ends on January 30. This period is characterized by a significant drop in temperatures and more chances of snowfall. However, there has been no major snowfall so far in Kashmir this year. Kashmir plains witnessed the first spell of snow on December 27, the second spell on January 2 and third on January 4