A fresh blanket of snow enveloped several parts of Kashmir, including Srinagar city, on Saturday, as the Meteorological department predicted moderate to heavy snowfall in the valley over the next 48 hours.
The snowy spectacle commenced early in the morning in the higher reaches of Kashmir, gradually extending to the plains throughout the day, according to officials.
Day temperatures are anticipated to hover between zero and three degrees Celsius in most Kashmiri locales. Authorities have issued avalanche warnings in the hilly and mountainous areas of Kashmir, urging motorists to exercise caution on slippery roads.
Despite a brief respite from the intense cold conditions the previous night, minimum temperatures remained several degrees below normal for this time of the year.
Gulmarg skiing resort in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 10.6 degrees Celsius, a slight increase from the previous night's minus 12.0 degrees Celsius.
Pahalgam, a tourist resort in south Kashmir and the base camp for the annual Amarnath yatra, recorded a low of minus 8.3 degrees Celsius, up from minus 11.9 degrees Celsius the previous night.
The towns of Kokernag and Qazigund in south Kashmir both registered a low of minus 5.4 degrees Celsius, as per officials.
Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, reported a low of minus 1.7 degrees Celsius.
On Friday, the mercury plummeted across Kashmir, with unofficial data suggesting Larnoo town in south Kashmir's Anantnag district recorded a bone-chilling minus 17.1 degrees Celsius.
Similarly, Sonamarg resort on the Srinagar-Leh highway experienced a low of minus 15.1 degrees Celsius.
Despite the conclusion of the 40-day harshest winter period, known as 'Chilla-i-Kalan,' earlier in the week, a persistent cold wave continues to grip Kashmir.
The valley is currently in the midst of a 20-day-long 'Chilla-i-Khurd' (small cold), followed by a subsequent 10-day 'Chilla-i-Bachha' (baby cold).