Srinagar- The cold wave intensified across Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh on Monday as minimum temperatures continued to plunge amid a prolonged dry spell.

Pulwama recorded the lowest temperature in the Valley at minus 5.1 degrees Celsius, followed by Shopian at minus 5.0 degrees and Baramulla at minus 4.9 degrees. Pahalgam settled at minus 4.8 degrees and Srinagar recorded minus 3.7 degrees.

Srinagar Airport and Pampore recorded minus 4.0 degrees, Budgam minus 4.1, Awantipora minus 4.2, while Qazigund, Bandipora and Kupwara each recorded minus 3.6. Gulmarg stood at minus 2.5 degrees and Sonamarg at minus 4.5 degrees. Zethan Rafiabad recorded minus 5.2 degrees and Zojila Pass was the coldest at minus 19.0 degrees.

In the Jammu region, temperatures remained above freezing but the chill persisted. Bhaderwah was the coldest at 0.9 degrees Celsius followed by Rajouri at 0.4. Jammu city recorded 7.3 degrees, Katra 10.1 degrees, Kathua 7.6 degrees and Udhampur 2.0 degrees.

Ladakh remained gripped in severe cold. Leh recorded minus 8.5 degrees, Kargil minus 7.2 degrees and Nubra Valley minus 6.0 degrees. Officials said temperatures are expected to fall further if the dry spell continues.

The Meteorological Department said generally cloudy weather is expected on Monday with partly cloudy conditions over the next few days. It forecast the possibility of light snowfall over some higher reaches of north and central Kashmir between December 13 and 15. Partly cloudy weather is likely again from December 16 to 18, followed by generally cloudy conditions with chances of light snowfall at isolated higher reaches from December 19 to 21.

More detailed forecasts are expected in the days ahead as winter conditions intensify.