Fresh snowfall likely in Kashmir over the next 48 hours,

Srinagar, Jan 5 (PTI) Overcast conditions in Kashmir on Sunday brightened the prospects of fresh snowfall.

"Light to moderate snowfall is expected in most parts of Kashmir over the next 48 hours, " an official of the MET department said here. 

He said overcast skies have resulted in warmer than expected night temperature with Srinagar recording a low of minus 1 degrees Celsius last night. 

The official said the ski-resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir recorded the low of minus 10.5 degrees Celsius last night – four degrees down from Saturday.

The night temperature at Pahalgam resort, which also serves as one of the base camps for the annual Amarnath yatra in south Kashmir, settled at a low of minus 9.4 degrees Celsius – nearly seven degrees down from minus 2.5 degrees Celsius yesterday, he said.

The official said Qazigund – the gateway town to the valley - in south Kashmir recorded a low of minus 0.6 degree Celsius – up over six degrees from the previous night's minus 7 degrees Celsius.

Kokernag town, also in the south, recorded a low of minus 4.9 degrees Celsius, while Kupwara, in the north, registered the minimum of minus 4 degrees Celsius, the official said.

The mercury in Leh, in the Ladakh Union territory, settled at a low of minus 16.4 degrees Celsius.

Kashmir is currently under the grip of 'Chillai-Kalan' - the 40-day harshest period of winter when the chances of snowfall are most frequent and maximum and the temperature drops considerably.

'Chillai-Kalan' began on December 21 and ends on January 31, but the cold wave continues even after that in Kashmir. The 40-day period is followed by a 20-day long 'Chillai-Khurd' (small cold) and a 10-day long 'Chillai-Bachha' (baby cold).