J&K, Ladakh Weather Update: Ahead of new year celebrations, mercury dipped across Kashmir Valley and Ladakh on Tuesday night with Gulmarg, the world famous skiing resort, recording a low of minus 11.0 degree Celsius, while Leh, Kargil and Drass also recorded lower temperatures. A MeT official said minimum temperature in Drass was recorded at a low of -26.1 Celsius while Leh settled at -16.9 degree Celsius and Kargil at -17.1 degree Celsius.  Also Read: Alert! No Breathalyzers, But Blood Tests: Mumbai Police's Strict Measures Against Drunk Drivers On New Year's Eve

In Kashmir valley, Srinagar settled at minus 2.1°C against O°C previous night. Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 11.0°C against minus 7.5°C on the previous night. Pahalgam, the famous tourist destination in south Kashmir, recorded a minimum of minus 9.0°C against minus 3.0°C on previous night.

Qazigund recorded minus 2.5°C against minus 0.4°C on previous night, Kupwara recorded minus 2.8°C while Kokernag was third coldest place in Valley as mercury settled at minus 6.5 °C last night, the official said.

Kashmir is in the middle Chillai-Kalan, the 40-day winter period which commenced on December 21 and ends on January 31. The period is considered the harshest during the winter when snowfall are most frequent and heavy.

Meanwhile moderate snowfall happened in most places in Kashmir on Tuesday, bringing cheer to those associated with tourism and trade as they expect business to pick up on the New Year’s Eve.

The cold wave, however, continues even after that in Kashmir with a 20-day-long 'Chillai-Khurd' (small cold) and a 10-day-long 'Chillai-Bachha' (baby cold).

The weather department has forecasted mainly dry weather over Jammu and Kashmir for next week or so, saying there would be no significant change before January 5 when there is possibility of wide spread snow and rain across the Valley.