Srinagar: Biting cold wave persisted in the high-altitude areas of Jammu and Kashmir today with minimum temperature dipping to as low as minus 12 degree Celsius in parts of the Ladakh region.
Night temperatures were showing a downward trend in most areas of the state for the past one week.
Leh area in the cold desert of Ladakh was the coldest place in the state with a low of minus 12 degree C followed by Pahalgam (minus 4.6), Qazigund (minus 3.8), Kokernag (minus 2.7), Kupwara (minus 2.3) and Banihal (minus one).
Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 1.8 while Jammu, the winter capital, witnessed a warmer night with a minimum temperature of 7.2 degree Celsius. Katra, the base camp for Mata Vaishnodevi temple, recorded a low of 8.2 degree C, the Met office said.
Western disturbances from the Arabian Sea through Pakistan are fast approaching the region and are likely to hit the state tomorrow which could result in rainfall or snowfall at a few places, officials said.
They said widespread rainfall or snowfall of moderate to heavy intensity was likely from January 15 to 17. Higher reaches of the state might also experience heavy snowfall during the period, they said.
